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Spring Festival Words 0 R0 k3 h9 E; n0 V
Greeting Season: - x, w( r$ g% [5 S8 V# c
春节 The Spring Festival $ D3 W9 t |* i6 K
农历 lunar calendar % v2 q4 C/ ~6 N$ `7 F
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
% T6 a% L6 S& c$ V: l2 E3 [ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ! x! {2 m7 B( @; p% Z8 g4 Z
初一 the beginning of New Year 6 V% T$ Q) F7 z8 \: V4 J: ^% {9 N0 n
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' A. c* v) G z2 |& T0 A Customs: " F6 l. m1 C: K' m% t* m2 |
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 8 D I% }1 h5 }4 V8 i2 o
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
7 w& }- P, E0 ?" D4 U- w5 v 春联 Spring Festival couplets % \3 v; `/ d0 h& M
剪纸 paper-cuts
# [% H( y! P5 m% U; U M 年画 New Year paintings
2 r3 E7 t: ^9 m) G$ c 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 ]4 ]4 {4 ^. F
敬酒 propose a toast
6 C, f* A8 k% A2 @3 e' i5 _ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 C N* A' e9 t, X: ~/ M! T 烟花 fireworks
' h2 u: k8 |! p E4 x( d5 Q4 w& V" Z 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) - G' C% x( J6 j
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: b, V4 p5 {9 j) w% |7 B 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 _" F$ i% \/ L% F0 ]1 \/ O# Z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - K# y8 f) `3 }! i" g. t* M
戏曲 traditional opera 4 s1 m: N: g% R
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( ?- P7 l* I' _' s/ ]
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns L. H g+ l2 Q" m
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
6 z7 l( e1 p4 O5 {3 V# v 守岁 staying-up
2 z7 A, l7 n6 j! y+ @) `& [) S# R 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 t3 d+ b* w4 B7 O 禁忌 taboo 9 K3 j& l( u0 w
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 R) G g+ G. v7 ~: E
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ( W6 y* Z! ?" o; f- ~( b
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 2 s- W2 m% P4 q# U
Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth
V' i0 f% h o" _) E 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
; o$ F+ G1 ]/ X8 Q 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( T6 g" {3 w" M# O Blessing:
+ b2 u* m* U r9 q( ` Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ' }4 \% U9 H9 Y5 \8 k% g
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
/ J, l5 P/ T2 J/ R+ w! j Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
7 ~0 ]3 k0 K9 Q+ B' V2 p 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
+ a; n5 r! y6 o9 t7 G 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 1 Z5 \6 O: w, D, p$ m( g- u% z" t
Food names:
- g$ ?6 c' E9 T7 J 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake # n/ O+ |2 j0 q# W- M. j
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
8 X. f* F$ L" j) g) B H' ~; M* \0 Q. T 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
% f; ^; }! w+ k& u8 f1 ^: U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 2 d5 C& q" I& M3 F# W9 K2 j
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 ~. j9 E/ P K# T0 V+ j 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 2 Y9 h) i: {8 V! b1 P0 d9 Z3 g7 E
糖果盘 candy tray:
, P# _) a3 C% g 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 N3 m, @0 F7 o2 U. d% p
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ {, W9 X0 W9 S# O/ J 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
1 N+ z9 e9 o% J' O 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 0 z# } H7 J% ^4 F
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come + p8 {$ `$ T% s$ L! `
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
, v* [, W0 k4 _2 t1 c, Q 红枣 red dates - prosperity 3 l; H5 Z1 `* V: G7 @3 P) q
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00