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Spring Festival Words 0 Q& i. w7 P9 I* s
Greeting Season:
' ]% J, c% U. s* m 春节 The Spring Festival
8 m' x. Y6 B' U6 Q4 T! u$ ~ 农历 lunar calendar
* W! r5 v9 g- W* ]/ {5 C+ h 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . G$ J e) z' T2 n1 Q8 f9 H) K
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 2 E( I& t, @" p: m4 f* ^
初一 the beginning of New Year $ T) R. z. K% E9 N( Y' O% e6 F c
元宵节 The Lantern Festival . v- F; K1 }1 u: t" n5 B+ y& U7 h
Customs:
5 c3 Y# H" r8 ^2 i 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
" Y# d3 ]1 ^& V9 `2 \ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : `1 {- O- {; M* q
春联 Spring Festival couplets
2 t" d8 P* e% L8 t+ E 剪纸 paper-cuts
$ s2 I: B, {" N. G0 O$ Q3 M1 M 年画 New Year paintings
. f4 o9 m& f7 w# Y 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ S/ h# o7 G2 w" K1 z& `+ \ 敬酒 propose a toast ( A# F4 j) Y- d4 H% K+ B1 X
灯笼 lantern: a portable light + l* C# Z3 G; u$ q ~
烟花 fireworks 4 A4 T- {7 T+ V! b4 m) W
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ( V: D' ^0 S! M3 T3 ?; y
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, Q3 [+ G" G8 \3 C4 R4 I7 q* Y) u 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
" U' `; w/ D! { i: v- u 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
. Q' R; | D, F; n9 c" Q c 戏曲 traditional opera
* w4 {* Z) e, t 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville , E" h2 J! C, e
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 5 K- c* E. a; s& u% V$ R' Q
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ J; E- t$ C3 o+ ?$ f. f5 ? 守岁 staying-up 9 v8 x: m' I% J m
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( O# F- I) [9 _. n' o
禁忌 taboo . V/ O; e2 l K, x6 G: v
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
% O' X9 W6 x8 t* v 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
& {: Y- }# @# ?3 V! j6 |5 ]# \0 x 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 4 x! m# [) o- i$ X* g0 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
3 v/ R. i d; w4 y/ Y 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ]2 W& Q \8 j6 o
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
) k6 G. h U0 r4 M8 l Blessing: + Q: M9 _' m9 }5 I* H
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
3 B3 }$ B/ ]: X Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace " Y6 o4 I/ w7 F3 y: B& G
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; `2 O% s+ q$ h* q& g 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : x% b! \) H2 ]$ k- H4 h
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
9 p8 J& W( F/ S4 d u Food names:
. ^) u0 D+ x( |: l; e 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& O5 m9 Q6 Y9 c 团圆饭 family reunion dinner . b: H J* q5 ?7 K+ H1 }* O% h
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ! @& x" I1 K F! _ N) v# _
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
4 g) M0 k" Y2 _ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ) u5 N: i7 h# ^6 j
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
4 \% b2 G) ?: w5 W4 ` 糖果盘 candy tray:
7 [: K% q. |: X3 @ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( ]( p1 R& d! b) D) O, i3 B8 @ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
8 l7 o3 D! E! i" I 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / u' k/ [, V4 t! \5 j; f
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ; ~% ]8 i( [: \$ T6 F$ Y p, z
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : \# n! @" y- G% ?/ ]- |3 ]1 C
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: r: W$ O4 S" B/ F% T. m$ V. ` 红枣 red dates - prosperity
' a. _9 F' M' h+ ~. i1 A 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00