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Spring Festival Words % ]7 q# _) S8 O9 S2 b
Greeting Season:
. K& j) e. ^2 M' T5 X' x8 O 春节 The Spring Festival % x& q* [5 {: y: Q
农历 lunar calendar 2 g( J3 M9 g( ]. U
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 a1 a0 \: u9 w/ ? 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % P7 L4 w& r; l+ ~+ a0 c B8 {
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 q$ J2 F% L( Z4 P. B* N1 ~6 b& ^/ m 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
$ F7 ?) j3 w/ X$ Y$ K6 K Customs:
2 i g0 }& f& u# O% F) u- Z 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 J, E# y" g. j9 w8 f" D( |* f: n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , [( t8 |. n5 c4 o, ]4 q) C
春联 Spring Festival couplets 7 D6 V& r1 D% C k
剪纸 paper-cuts
1 z" D$ M ?$ z& \, O 年画 New Year paintings % U8 L% W0 @9 B
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 3 ` U- n) {) B1 T, |& H& M3 o
敬酒 propose a toast 9 w2 k* ]. w) r" J0 t+ Z
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. Y. w! V2 J" n; f( i. L9 t 烟花 fireworks & p1 M( t4 o# _
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 5 _+ [% C. k! v6 [
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 }2 g1 s* a0 I2 d& Q2 a
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 7 q" V9 y3 u' J7 [, J5 U( r2 S
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ) o" m6 o+ O0 s# V" Z8 T" |- K
戏曲 traditional opera
& G5 Z4 _9 a) S0 O8 K 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville S# b' ^) f" k' A
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 V9 d4 D1 O9 ?3 w 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 T/ ?; _1 q+ D2 G
守岁 staying-up
1 Z9 s g5 M/ ~: ~( v( b, u; w: I& g 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit $ L7 h) }) L/ @. g; B
禁忌 taboo
+ m6 R; d X! C* I, d 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 x* q1 C/ e% {8 M8 Z2 O 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
; J; F! [/ _/ v, B& l 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
# d8 K( k7 p4 O, G4 p0 _# L" t 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
& W! L5 Y" P5 L) ` 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year $ ]( `0 z7 u2 `. s
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / t3 Z- D: F& ~' `. J
Blessing:
0 G" Z f' ~; u& q; K Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity # X o0 U. c9 J, |/ [) R
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace - l; k1 t/ ]- n
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 \+ U' K% e ?! N8 l6 V& R: o
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ; Q( Z8 I B3 Y6 p! { X& h' H
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! - I+ h% G+ W% Y( x7 @6 k3 d
Food names: ( K3 k& L7 V1 S& e5 g
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 4 X5 O- j# L( [% x# ]0 d
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; V% _* Y# S9 T% \( p- M V0 _
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve / P: P# |& i; j/ ?
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 n0 }, x- J3 z" x' G- Y2 R2 Z 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
$ S) V4 h G1 E8 P8 D 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ]' s, t- s* E4 @
糖果盘 candy tray: # ^6 t& d1 C h; O! w" j" ^9 ]: Q+ L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( g( H+ [$ Y9 O! a 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " T- l% r" r, r2 w: w; r( s
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
8 G5 G2 D; K" c5 U; I 金桔 cumquat - prosperity / j8 L& q4 o! W
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
4 @* w5 W0 c9 T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ; \% I4 \- M8 T' J4 k% H- V
红枣 red dates - prosperity
( n) y! a) y5 k 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00