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Spring Festival Words ; p" C$ w/ U5 k7 r% G
Greeting Season:
6 v! c# i4 t0 a. J 春节 The Spring Festival " s e$ {3 ]4 K; z8 B
农历 lunar calendar ' B( V" Q, m2 b O. S; H. N
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 8 @- k. y7 J' N' N/ t7 Q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 5 L; d0 \6 S3 @: k g B! m
初一 the beginning of New Year
0 m' r I8 z/ b2 z( f 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 5 I% P L; n1 a; |7 H/ ~# Z
Customs: 7 R6 ~. a+ u' Q, M% m
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; [* g) @: j" q: w( Y) m: T
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# U( {) z: p5 I7 r/ w+ _4 X/ w 春联 Spring Festival couplets
5 Y# N( o7 e' T+ Z6 p 剪纸 paper-cuts
2 J5 I) M/ \6 W& w0 p+ s 年画 New Year paintings
7 p9 b5 s$ e# | 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping : M5 `. C% o% F0 [
敬酒 propose a toast ! X7 X) p" F' ^
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 U' q4 {; b. B& y& N* I6 I 烟花 fireworks
' T9 Y- F% c7 I J- R7 j 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- v& K/ P; N a* ^; K$ c" r: y2 H) u7 q 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 0 z0 c4 M% T2 Z( A. W% n
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
/ F# e5 s! k5 A1 V 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* ^# n" m& ~3 d8 i) E( n8 @ 戏曲 traditional opera
v' k5 O9 P% H" ?" P& G 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville - N( _7 p' f% c# s K& I
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns * ~" d& I9 I/ a E& ~
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ b. ]" n3 s6 K, u# F- F ?( s 守岁 staying-up
. _; q2 Y8 b0 y+ t1 d" o# M 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 8 I6 j0 U0 n: x i- n/ D9 _
禁忌 taboo $ I( z/ C! _ l: P2 t
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* M8 o8 a2 l7 A) ] 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # q) Q; x/ F7 P/ Q7 C
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( ^( ~% h& m/ Z/ [1 g ^ 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 " f) {$ H, y' W! R1 O* `5 ]
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' g" L* p$ ]. f. K
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
! t. z/ o1 `* D2 K Blessing:
; g) D3 ?" c3 C& V Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 D) P3 r u: m. Y, @8 w0 R( x
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ! H9 V1 k, x8 x4 c5 M
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
& `0 J/ Y/ F6 A9 }6 n 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 p7 k" [# d) t: W# U( q" a
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
) h. g7 T/ Z7 F Food names: 5 Y6 {( \) o' z% }* D2 X. l, Q
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 5 h+ o W. J' I1 |& M& a
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 c4 v. K% Q" c7 @4 d; {! t0 J" q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ) X# T8 I2 _% E. G
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
; c7 j- c* T2 b; e; M+ s, c/ ^& R 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ a. l# Q& }7 t1 f' p& Q% `7 S 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 7 Q3 O0 R! _9 i/ _' ~( f
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ ~+ x. E* g6 e6 x' T+ `" Q9 q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune : m9 q4 o, _: a% m0 I( E& e% H) g7 b, q+ v
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
; f5 y8 F. |3 n/ [8 D) j! O 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
# F6 B7 E( { T/ h 金桔 cumquat - prosperity ' D# [) m& a' J- L- m( c
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
_4 X6 I' w: ?' V 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
3 i3 U" s' S1 v( A+ a 红枣 red dates - prosperity
b2 a7 k& R3 }8 N( U4 J 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
