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Spring Festival Words
; `% S }3 Y6 N% v9 U5 \ Greeting Season: . L8 r9 b0 \) P/ ~7 ]
春节 The Spring Festival - r2 K6 W) j3 c" _ R# A% q4 a
农历 lunar calendar
& [2 Z1 V; c7 Y( |; j6 |+ S 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
( F$ d/ m! X, E' n 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
7 D8 M( b) ]) W4 h0 E 初一 the beginning of New Year 0 I Z0 X! i$ t" [
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
; `- M. K3 b1 i1 x! {- h3 }' e Customs:
( a% I2 x7 r6 e; X+ ]. G: ? 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
( T( Q S; s0 ^4 A* w 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' k; s- I& G: S0 {
春联 Spring Festival couplets 7 e6 T) r# r" Y. W
剪纸 paper-cuts & b: B9 B' L- m" ]
年画 New Year paintings + v. @. }+ H2 ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 5 v% T/ P! J! i! h
敬酒 propose a toast
0 g7 Q0 H/ ?3 B0 x 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
i9 t3 J! m2 f0 I 烟花 fireworks _0 S, Y2 W$ q9 \+ a* J. Q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 7 G3 Y7 [$ j/ E6 X# F2 V
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 a3 }$ G, ], u5 O* t5 \
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
& p$ r8 \# W7 W) u! L 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) j1 ^, I: D% n8 j+ Q. F
戏曲 traditional opera : _( F! A* g" j0 L7 X) F
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ; ~- e/ Y: D8 F$ i! s! G
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ G2 }' s0 Y1 r4 O% H 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ) ?6 J5 [5 v% d0 T( r/ F7 O
守岁 staying-up
- Y0 @' l5 v+ c- L! V4 B; o 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
3 O: I2 k" i- t* y+ t 禁忌 taboo ' J8 _: R4 G/ s: D3 T+ ^
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ; }1 G t# l; C2 `
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 d- {1 n1 }# y" y$ b, G! ?
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
6 g3 E$ B E; {( e0 `/ { 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
6 y' F, P) A% J, Q" \ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & p) b, M7 d* v( ~* t6 _/ s7 ?
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( Y4 Y. P. W( K4 r$ I% C! I Blessing:
$ o& o6 k$ c% h! U2 u9 A Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 4 {& T" `; H [! B+ K! A
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
7 \# U& l. D2 o( _& t4 J+ I4 p5 A Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 g! u# v& n1 ?! v# N4 W% S
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! , L( f) F0 v1 v9 i: c! B) n
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! s% P" E! b' Z. R0 s$ ?
Food names:
1 L& r7 [ }9 Q Y$ k' A7 b 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ; t) d9 x: g. X. C' B- H8 J- L
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
4 C" J& k: [" w 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 4 s% W: j, s6 n* r; p1 Z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli # D5 b5 _3 y3 k0 w
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
( L' u7 a) w: {* ]8 _# e4 y 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ! p3 I( m- c5 j
糖果盘 candy tray: # W( u4 ` w- W* N' \5 o* e
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
" A8 k( s1 X' M5 d2 `1 B9 f8 E 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ! a" k% b0 s1 h3 I6 L5 D( D
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( r, c) N' O& _" h8 I 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
1 p5 u! ?& d! e+ R1 ^7 W% Z 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 m6 W; f4 f! Q! f8 M 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
2 u% E; U! q4 Z 红枣 red dates - prosperity ' S# \* a4 \/ |8 n7 D" h
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00