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Spring Festival Words % M7 U1 N% O! X& K% q
Greeting Season: / c! U3 a. n2 ?/ a4 ^: k
春节 The Spring Festival 7 m! |+ e6 Z. {8 S# i
农历 lunar calendar 5 o0 j2 o+ g9 b3 M3 L
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . X! j |$ A0 R, E i% T
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
+ J+ ^3 A) ]" p* q& [ 初一 the beginning of New Year
, b; F4 C& K/ @, E0 x 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
1 N% k; w: ]) @. x6 g9 x X Customs:
) p% z3 D9 w. V( k/ ]1 z- G, | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
8 j0 \+ h/ X+ Z. Y6 E. C1 u b 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry . U) m+ p2 c' l; ~1 N$ {
春联 Spring Festival couplets
) v; {' ^4 _1 K) c# ? 剪纸 paper-cuts ) Q& C& ^* k/ N+ D! F+ E/ [
年画 New Year paintings * ~% w8 _6 j; h8 K$ l! T4 Q. n
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 0 f* ~, o$ t, P: h& m7 ?5 n+ y% Z I
敬酒 propose a toast 1 }3 A) k: n8 R4 o& L: A
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
5 }/ n: r1 l& j9 E; _, t' q! h 烟花 fireworks
: _# I- q5 k5 J& O, P8 _5 r 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
6 U' A9 L' f2 E" A4 b 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) # N0 `- I+ V2 p+ W
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
' M* v5 \ B- t6 ~$ a 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 5 \2 Z# w. N, n
戏曲 traditional opera
Z$ l3 B6 u1 R 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
8 D @ ^' d4 ]1 C% A$ p 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 1 l& E8 v! F, f" F# v) U
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 a7 L* ?/ g o% C* I) o9 v
守岁 staying-up
4 F" v2 }+ M8 F/ S& J+ c% B 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit $ }4 A% S# W" p9 J
禁忌 taboo
: N$ N, K' D- d 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & b+ u) Q- }" F" c( I8 ?4 X! O
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
% y. d f* F& I3 M' \! k; Y% A 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
/ O Y9 I# a5 L9 F; r1 T- e 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 * j( E6 U; `" `& _6 A- X. m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & W4 `5 p1 w3 C" O
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
! X) g; @- W8 q Blessing: & W$ J8 M! c' ^+ M1 I; A' J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity & |; o. A- H Y: z8 O$ k+ N; ?# [
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace . z6 K1 Z" D' T6 n9 p2 L# |9 J
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 ]) V* K. O1 m' Y/ D& a2 D
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ! G( h) I2 W8 v9 e |4 C R
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 5 f$ B2 o/ e& l- K
Food names:
, O; X" \1 {; G* u. Y' o5 x0 i 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 5 k+ F; S' J* i& T
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
* G/ N( J. W8 c2 R& L 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 R6 Z% I* P8 ^) @8 [4 S 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; N q& s+ {0 I, n4 k
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
1 A' r8 U0 N! Y, r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
+ p% H/ k+ N0 s6 R 糖果盘 candy tray: / K/ Q) Q* g# w |) |/ w
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 F% C" Z" D" H$ T( S" [ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health / ~ s6 e1 Y9 n5 [) ~' R
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& f6 c1 ~5 [# O9 m 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * s2 M% R* {+ w4 |4 a
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ! o r0 V) P0 i; I1 }& o
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 4 f5 |/ ^& x( ?0 b$ ^4 K+ h9 \
红枣 red dates - prosperity
, Y9 H( R! i/ P6 C 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00