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Spring Festival Words : d& }& K& f) g$ b5 I
Greeting Season: 9 M8 F4 a9 A5 Z& T( y& k
春节 The Spring Festival ( j) G/ R( D7 B
农历 lunar calendar ' m/ a5 i' s, z4 }- q
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar * e( o6 A; N. \' K
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / L! q- @* \, C7 \7 g$ a
初一 the beginning of New Year
@$ }" ~/ k E 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 7 F: B: Q, c: y$ V J, v, r
Customs:
" |5 \7 T4 I: G: a) A6 y* K4 x 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
$ }4 n. o; A7 d1 K 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry D9 o- K5 \! ]3 }, p
春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 N8 x7 M$ l B7 Z0 M
剪纸 paper-cuts & p. v" u( X* u8 \8 Q! o2 L4 r* o
年画 New Year paintings
8 @. L$ m6 s w# l 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ( p8 @ t. m" Z1 ]
敬酒 propose a toast
8 M0 d$ q j5 E. R: S0 p/ h- m 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
' o5 s9 u: Q7 X: H! i 烟花 fireworks # V8 a8 O3 m- w& i3 D! `
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' U. o2 B/ B2 V" e$ F* K6 i7 [
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
. T: P# k, |5 z* I0 ^ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 7 g. E' d( _" {4 M4 O+ e
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* U; \& m- h8 a9 D! S- f6 u. Q# `8 X# n 戏曲 traditional opera
- w/ {0 X. t& O 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville G' @7 B- e- H( M$ F2 T1 }# u
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
3 r' e1 f: y- R" u 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 1 v! Z0 @$ H& p& ?% P
守岁 staying-up
/ K6 _5 K& I; O/ f3 {. t 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
' G' N0 W+ h8 ^4 ~! u 禁忌 taboo 2 C3 U8 Z/ P/ d
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 B( N8 A" Q& X2 ~8 G( P
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
" |4 U9 G% E6 f* n$ d* D 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift : z5 ` |3 Q; `! k
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
8 x1 v' u% Z, n _/ {' L. f7 B 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 5 ^5 E" D1 e3 }6 n6 F) E7 k ?
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / Z' L v8 y9 |+ m8 @/ y- v
Blessing:
+ V G1 T/ R8 ?2 d Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ! B T) k& l" J- N
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace + K: b+ r. @( P- ?7 V, C" A
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 b6 s0 I6 q( X% U* r4 {% x
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
: u, T+ i4 L5 c6 S0 u 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! + f# `. _. o m8 O% j, y8 n0 A
Food names:
3 t W# K* |+ ]8 m" o 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 2 B0 C$ }, Q- T) x% G+ l8 a
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 1 e" Z; b- e. {7 a; l* S
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( J- R* z" R" R3 Y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
1 Z" L2 B; `: @" u 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings , q* h2 j# h8 o$ @2 o4 {9 M
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
7 t5 ^1 @" P0 \" g 糖果盘 candy tray:
?' g% b4 W5 d) X( ~+ Q1 X 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ! z9 Y* l/ V' s
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
9 u1 N0 [( i" C% I" E 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity % y% |; i% Q+ l6 U. ]" n% C K5 [
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 l' Q/ P- T6 u+ w 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' k! }0 l' h I8 F
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' _9 w9 A9 O# q. O- h
红枣 red dates - prosperity * Y: B; m; B7 P5 U$ ], F
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
