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Spring Festival Words $ x0 ]* ?3 I# a# ^9 z% T! |: Z, O
Greeting Season:
. ~/ v' Y$ t2 C0 w$ \/ @ 春节 The Spring Festival
+ x% D( v" x( Z1 |6 A 农历 lunar calendar ( }; I/ W4 n2 O, t2 [- F' f8 N
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
& Q3 T6 ~9 K2 C" y: V0 t$ D 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
O( z" v( {' U+ R; a# J1 H" U 初一 the beginning of New Year
) f0 [8 g+ o2 _' Y$ M% o- J 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 H9 H* C+ [; R! @6 Z) E% ^3 Z9 b8 y( u Customs:
- C7 x5 z6 Y: U 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ! o% p! B8 t A0 X
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ( h, D6 E$ b' w: G
春联 Spring Festival couplets
: h' Z! m2 m5 C; C( Y0 s: y* Z 剪纸 paper-cuts 0 x G! |; @+ l+ z( k6 Y) l
年画 New Year paintings
' U/ M( ]; G- S# c& C0 a7 K 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 0 I: I! S( R# |: \, i1 s6 [6 R
敬酒 propose a toast
+ M, Z- E# I P, \8 G 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' A4 _, I& x( y0 M- f- G
烟花 fireworks 3 J. c; @, Z; d M! r
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ }' j: Q; [* |5 q; N 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' T' u: m5 ~9 i" t/ i( m
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ' @2 w/ M! I% {+ o
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
3 U' q" ?* |7 B& S 戏曲 traditional opera
5 X0 v0 r# {4 F1 n6 H 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* O$ T. |+ ^8 G 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
; `; j7 }% R: k6 P+ u! h, } 灯会 exhibit of lanterns % |$ B1 O& q' X
守岁 staying-up
9 ~% t3 a f" Y$ n3 @- m0 \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 I0 p5 o9 y i3 y8 H 禁忌 taboo % Y6 }' }* |" X" g4 e+ n: A$ e' Z
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * h' z: ]! ^# @2 e. f7 `
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors + f8 h8 L% O3 R6 d. q; n$ C0 ~
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
% w. |" D% x3 z- A, h/ r6 s% g* b0 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
2 x& F/ `5 x& v: ?; r3 L. Y 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# p9 R* v& X8 I' c) w 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
! T- ^; c) J+ A4 ^% T Blessing:
) n/ h- ^; L* |- } Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
8 i; Q" u& ]" m6 C6 n Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
7 [, ^+ n8 Q; e9 ? Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go " c/ y$ ~, A+ n/ f+ ^& n2 g! f
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
7 ^/ K, _: `$ j v- [ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! b `( X7 s' d) F: q Food names:
0 W! E; G) O6 l, Q 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
8 C( q, u4 n3 j 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 0 K* a0 R- @1 t) s2 [
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
) D) }: v6 P: F0 B5 } 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
1 U- r/ c) [+ G8 `) I 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ C! M, F7 Z) G( b( J 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 5 Q j: z6 J& S
糖果盘 candy tray:
# e+ J9 |( T3 ~, P4 a9 Y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 L* F( k( M9 k$ S; B5 y
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : g5 j& B+ m2 R, j4 C: @2 H
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity # C; z- m m/ T, M* M& e
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ) i6 G7 Q- T+ X& X C0 x; L
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 W! [* d; Z1 Y/ j9 |- o 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
. y5 I; _$ N+ F2 b) E. [ 红枣 red dates - prosperity
, L G/ X/ n }0 E% \/ \ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00