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Spring Festival Words , g& I) C; A" ?/ j
Greeting Season: # d: ?% l* ?- N! v5 C' W
春节 The Spring Festival
( g; ?3 i# q4 ^ J1 j9 M 农历 lunar calendar 0 G$ H5 w8 a& l( ~ H3 @
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : M6 y* F( c. z9 v. D; I
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 1 j0 ? i+ d7 y! L( c
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 f. c6 l; L/ U/ S, X 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
+ J a' h- `* p7 S Customs:
9 @' w. `) b" b3 q. p( ~5 F 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
4 k. u3 E- l0 Q1 u7 l# Z- P 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry " h0 ?/ U- L( n& @- e% V' Q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 9 d( Y0 r( m- |0 r& B& }
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 i0 u: l# c/ @* v8 y. r 年画 New Year paintings
1 t9 m4 w+ k$ U, H, U# W* C 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) z. k3 N7 Z8 O4 Q1 p$ U
敬酒 propose a toast
# C% V+ a+ ^+ F D! b 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' C9 ~6 D! W2 @: r6 K4 J3 u
烟花 fireworks
# w3 u% C% e' K6 v 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 6 F$ @% [) c/ l& j i M
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) & U& N6 A+ Q2 ~$ U( F
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
& }, b+ H b0 x1 {! `, Z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 L9 @8 V" N1 |9 i$ Y3 K& W9 D4 J
戏曲 traditional opera - }" J: n; @* Q" O7 L7 C
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
0 T4 R% k% ^9 d$ c# _6 W, k! G 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns - d$ o9 f8 }! z) L4 [# S
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
! U& A3 O$ {1 r5 E 守岁 staying-up " ~# {0 z3 u( `& B4 l) Y2 _
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, V0 S3 A- Y, K 禁忌 taboo
# c: p- g& b3 i- l 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. c% X$ `! D$ D) N+ b 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
! q! d2 y. R" T4 Y. p* X% x1 V: Q 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
# N7 |' f* U4 V$ C& M4 f4 l 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
4 x/ b# Q6 g' t 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( ?. z7 X1 m1 B! `1 K& E; A
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 W: ?6 p) t2 M. H) ^ Blessing:
; l, |# E, M7 O7 | Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 7 }9 H0 _3 E' [. o
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 4 ?& f( x. ]% W& Z
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
' M9 D. S% X; ^4 T; r7 W& Z! I 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
9 F& x% W9 i; x6 ?$ o 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 8 e9 P$ y$ z1 A/ d- z
Food names: , P& k" I0 h. t4 R0 X/ x
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / m l. c9 x% u& E% {
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; Q% D! @ Q- V5 P8 B# t# s
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve + c; ]4 w7 b2 Y4 d
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli : p3 a( E+ J; u
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) v2 t3 d, ]5 V$ x3 p! b* }/ n 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 8 P: |0 f& u$ @. U5 [6 ^( H
糖果盘 candy tray: 6 [9 Z& y& s. }$ o2 `
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune - v/ Y9 P' A1 @
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
1 [: k& |6 l5 t! F% v* G! C3 E- ~+ Q 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
. Z: L' M% M0 \ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 ^( F( U+ P7 u. K5 F6 C8 U$ x 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 f6 P' W6 v2 X 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ; R- c2 N; D# W' L
红枣 red dates - prosperity
% F# F4 {- u4 c% Q" V 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00