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Spring Festival Words
2 n. y5 Z% n- p Greeting Season:
" ?# g6 l" S9 d$ M 春节 The Spring Festival ) V( u- O9 m% \
农历 lunar calendar
0 Q5 f, Y$ B! _9 m& i% `6 a _ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - j/ P1 t/ p* x5 k( k/ o
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* q9 _# O% c- V+ y0 O7 E$ L4 H3 `1 y. G2 | 初一 the beginning of New Year
6 U! |) x( k* v2 [' k7 I" J2 { 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % j7 }" B& n$ z0 o/ J# d
Customs: ' z: {9 _" r# E6 _0 u9 r8 o* H
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ w2 S0 k+ g8 u1 `0 i5 K" `
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
1 R+ R7 ?1 _( \% a% v+ @4 R5 {2 | 春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 M) n5 v4 E2 ], a& x- p& ]
剪纸 paper-cuts
( q! O7 C0 }( H- W+ r7 F 年画 New Year paintings , r3 t; K# J. `6 i5 O! e& f
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 3 j- y- Z' l, `2 q: ?2 v7 D
敬酒 propose a toast 0 Y7 R) X- G- W/ {1 x. q
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 g$ P' ~; v. I' G- Q x
烟花 fireworks ! ~* i' x+ l6 V9 E
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
: }9 Q# \: g! n& Q& D5 P% f. a 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, T( \6 C7 j( h( M% F) g 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; t5 O/ ]7 E' i& r( O
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 4 ?& y3 i0 T; Q! Y0 k! I3 M- ?
戏曲 traditional opera - |, I: u8 T3 b
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
) x4 f5 D. J }% l% A( M 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( Z8 k9 q: U$ j u* ?6 c
灯会 exhibit of lanterns K' N* t3 j$ K2 g2 m# r& X7 t" J
守岁 staying-up
! N, }& d) k. A 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , s' ^! ^$ @/ Q9 p/ p* R- W' e
禁忌 taboo 4 ]0 f) Y4 B! _3 i3 V# r2 i
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune " x; H y" d& ^# R( G
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 7 \: _6 A" ~, v; y( D
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
~* X% q" m, ]' h% y/ X, t$ b' z5 Z 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
- i! h: ]- f; N( Z 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& ^) ^' C' w9 z' e 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# y( s! s* X& f Blessing: ^; `& j3 g! E9 I7 _& i& N
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ; u2 L6 f; y0 ?" u" n9 Q) W) Y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 7 @( L+ }9 ^2 Z2 Y# |8 M: V
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
( }: c p$ `: o0 x% z% E 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
9 F3 W$ ~3 k, H: m$ y1 { \ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
2 w1 p" `: I7 N# c \9 | Food names:
* `) e% }: Z$ s 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 6 X& t& s5 t, j7 p0 z- T
团圆饭 family reunion dinner * E( F9 K. M) _
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
+ ?, U( ~2 F/ e+ h) s 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
; u) W4 H3 I) V3 k$ W+ i 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ! d$ u1 D# `, G
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding % L* \7 Q* }- }1 o; l
糖果盘 candy tray: 1 a- b' \: K' i) B- c% z, v+ F
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
- C4 [2 J n5 }2 G 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
# D8 M; I0 j& I3 e 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( m0 q; X# K4 D ~* i; ~ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 M8 u5 d9 u- p& |' S: [5 F9 X 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
$ G1 B& W5 Z0 q: X7 C 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship . `/ Z/ y: t% P
红枣 red dates - prosperity * o: O) h5 }" O" f
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00