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Spring Festival Words
# e; n Z+ H3 V% } Greeting Season:
$ S8 k) K/ d! L 春节 The Spring Festival & X- c- u& Q' `/ g( i' A8 l( x% {+ j/ o
农历 lunar calendar 4 t+ k+ i2 \2 j
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ( X5 n: g5 `7 e' V, t6 `0 J! j
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 v% h+ N- O2 ?( ?% [5 T5 S 初一 the beginning of New Year
' s8 G7 J/ T- a- Y. @, f) \! u9 ^' I 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 D3 V" c h8 C- c3 U. _
Customs:
" a5 J' g& _. _7 \, q+ k0 G 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival % g8 H, Z1 ^/ c
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : t1 q- G3 M$ ^( ]) N
春联 Spring Festival couplets
" e* F/ R% \% q* Q 剪纸 paper-cuts
# N" h$ L7 F& ^# o5 s& ]$ k: `* Y 年画 New Year paintings
. Y: G# N0 ~; o$ X! X2 f k) p 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: E! p- X3 d [) J5 j) [ 敬酒 propose a toast ~$ V# x4 g' x$ D, f7 {
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 4 S; I/ B2 O, \% I0 q p& j
烟花 fireworks
9 C! D. }5 M$ ~. q8 j. J" I 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
O& Q+ t: j9 D9 y F 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
" e8 y8 e$ W1 i3 {, c- Q 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 6 |) }* N! Z9 N, R. O1 X
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
: b9 \8 }9 |& I6 r$ _) p 戏曲 traditional opera ! T# B" A0 c0 U" D8 P
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
1 M3 y; ^; `" Y9 W0 ?8 q4 u) x6 r 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ) ^; {! W) a) z$ a; w( N7 F7 y
灯会 exhibit of lanterns & h: X/ S( `( S6 F" {! E- Y
守岁 staying-up & X1 K0 h* D+ N% R2 W) p7 C1 L
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 q5 T4 s7 \" h 禁忌 taboo " A; x! C& e, x( t6 t& L! `
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ \* U# |7 p( v" w# a8 E# r/ S 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
" S# i6 d/ ?+ U$ N) n" u' v9 G 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 m6 p8 k! t" y: E* {( t$ i- A
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
( \. b2 ^& V3 U0 x' R1 ^, f 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& u0 F8 P: i" o% F6 t0 K 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
L3 c; ?: h( _ Blessing: 4 D; X7 i% r0 X; ~% v2 N
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
! A5 S1 ]$ o8 t8 \' W' f Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- P& T8 R7 C& D1 p, x/ i9 n Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - Y3 m& w/ }: z# [1 @
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! $ k4 K" {" H9 z0 V8 I5 y
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
% u1 K: o1 ~& Y& w; G, p7 {# | Food names: 1 h, D; q T9 x9 r; \5 ^
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake : t3 N0 x9 @8 `* f! P
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
! k# q2 j3 e; e" T6 O9 N 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 Z0 ^5 f- \$ @2 p$ J
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli + ?' G5 B1 W+ z! N# J8 Y
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
; k2 W* C1 q/ V' i 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ; d. N: k, `% h! q" ?- {& }
糖果盘 candy tray:
- Y4 J' E% D" I4 h5 \' z" P 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( r) F7 S6 e% y: B+ M |! I
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ) j1 j8 m# j% v& U3 q1 a
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( j- T+ F6 \. M2 [) L& b, |0 ~ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ z' M5 R2 V7 ~( S6 }' X/ M 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
- {; K4 U" d+ q6 J& m0 q 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ; o( }$ m8 ^+ J3 t$ L) N9 L
红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 S4 E8 c8 y' w1 b( d4 i1 S 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00