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Spring Festival Words
0 `0 D: `) b- {- z0 I- R* Y7 { Greeting Season:
- N3 Z1 ^3 K7 j& ] 春节 The Spring Festival
9 D$ \' t* {# ^& U% c" ]: C 农历 lunar calendar ( c/ x! s+ ~$ c$ q
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' f) S F( R. `8 D
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
- E/ C2 }9 Z% ]: a# Q' w/ a 初一 the beginning of New Year / m: H- {8 G0 X" ^, ?" M) }4 o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival , q. b6 A) F. s; D
Customs: 1 c6 M6 ]! D, ]$ I2 ^# ~
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
* o! b4 ?3 [0 j3 U; r8 s, g, } 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
j) k$ T: B' }4 ]* l 春联 Spring Festival couplets F0 v' e: H7 s
剪纸 paper-cuts ) c2 n& H ?( J5 o8 H5 A! M" A$ [
年画 New Year paintings ; ? n/ g) k: N5 u
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. W( v4 A% N' S8 j- } 敬酒 propose a toast
- p& u% o4 `2 X6 `2 i6 ?/ H 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( \% `5 J1 t; ^% q. H$ [ 烟花 fireworks 1 K+ x' L0 N- C6 U/ _2 Q' \, d
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , M0 R) M" S3 w7 y D! K3 v
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 b, W8 D6 C; a" i
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : u2 }5 x4 R- @! K) }$ L
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & C* S5 _0 c+ @$ q/ e% T8 L& O/ H
戏曲 traditional opera
6 }$ m' N/ t3 {' L8 F' z" { 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! q6 L$ `1 y2 }' g8 h: C, Q 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 Z) |! k. h' C" U- a 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ' Y8 w. O1 D, M' Q! R S
守岁 staying-up 3 ~3 U* x6 J ?9 ~! C( n/ P% C# o
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit $ t" Q" r/ H4 g2 A* ?5 B" X
禁忌 taboo 7 |8 p8 Q$ y* Z& O1 a/ h; V
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 0 w* V; N! g' M. U
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
! b/ A- ~5 o' F: C' M 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: }. ]" m, G$ P& X i 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 ( B* Z. n* j7 q# o. b& V
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 q/ ~6 d: y7 m1 W
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 6 K) q% d# L" ~, k$ y2 `. L
Blessing:
. x; t4 Q$ l0 Q; G8 q: {+ J$ i Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 4 f. d4 _/ M) r! f
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 D$ o( }* Q2 O0 ^/ J* N
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 x% A1 w1 F: F; M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! I% x$ s P" j% b6 E/ h
事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ! h% v. X% A B/ s
Food names:
% c- R3 _. o/ z i 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake . q/ v m/ ]% {: R
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ( ]: a# n/ {1 \8 m' V; s( O* t
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ v. C' `: J s, J+ I7 d! Y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 3 g1 I7 Q- e' B' p
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
. Y( ^7 D) K3 y9 A: a 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
# G' Y z- f" a; [ 糖果盘 candy tray:
8 K7 U& z* P( c y# l/ F( } 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ; d, ]$ [9 b# A1 a2 q. F
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
! r5 X/ R }* }$ } 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
4 O4 s% x" E. C4 v 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
B, J; e: k4 N. F, q: b) f1 y: X2 F" j 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come - g0 Q. e4 ^2 k
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ E9 Q! L1 O8 a* e, L 红枣 red dates - prosperity 0 I3 @5 ~+ \7 \2 v. q& Q
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |