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Spring Festival Words
1 e0 W$ y' m8 F5 Q. E: A; X! K) K Greeting Season: 1 Z3 C; x+ q4 T! l4 C
春节 The Spring Festival
, v) G) f3 d! H7 c 农历 lunar calendar
( C( F! D8 Z. u 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
# ^$ q) Z7 J: Q8 @+ Q9 R3 n4 w 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
/ c8 o( v4 ~& d) J* G 初一 the beginning of New Year 1 z, t ] m+ w" J
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 0 p/ j4 s c, x0 G8 c2 E, h
Customs:
' t3 h5 T5 F+ y* g5 s: g4 _ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- p B. m- Y, { 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* N7 ^3 f3 }3 q! f2 M* l5 B 春联 Spring Festival couplets
1 C8 N; L6 t; H& S, u7 O! D 剪纸 paper-cuts 6 x e: O3 l' w* C( S) H
年画 New Year paintings 0 _) B) @2 v4 S6 l9 g0 g
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
" F% c R, r- _' Z 敬酒 propose a toast . j6 o3 n* g3 y D$ R- u3 x- u
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- w1 |( }' W8 M h. R+ F2 C 烟花 fireworks a1 \- a# z. y8 b. z
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , _. i3 A8 c, U0 X# ~ P7 l) f
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 7 k1 \! r" y2 t* `3 C# ]
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 f1 C9 |8 [" M8 V/ [, q 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 4 k7 z5 v/ v. w) O4 l g" b
戏曲 traditional opera 9 ~$ S0 @6 X, @: d1 ~1 R
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ; R! H& i5 A, i/ M
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! A( s0 B: ^0 X1 w2 u1 _
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 1 E, \- x) v5 z7 H7 C+ l
守岁 staying-up 7 ?; W7 G/ k# a- H/ q) Y
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
t! s& x$ P2 `' W5 r) _) v: P; w 禁忌 taboo 3 W+ J# x1 V n
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
8 [* C+ M5 ?- T 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
+ L' h" e' u, J 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- t! s( b5 D) G+ h 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 . l8 G- Q4 z; `1 Q# p
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year $ S8 U: K* c# D; t0 J
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ A: r8 B) A6 C1 F* r Blessing: 5 M# G1 r* i6 |3 W! d
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
# a+ E. `7 U2 } Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace & I' w }6 I$ M$ S8 `
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 [# u, r X( N
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
2 y' ~7 }, i7 u( g# ~, h3 S 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: X# a- y/ ?* \2 X% s Food names:
0 S8 G# o- ~5 D( W+ ?- g' [ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake U1 v3 I, u6 {) u8 _& M8 {3 P
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ g$ {, M$ B D& j* I, d; q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 o0 d: A6 G. D8 \# [ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
2 e1 P! s) F! g$ |( T1 D: ? 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
& }- g' w. @8 o" o3 F 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( P+ D6 k, p+ c! }7 v7 [0 Q: R( ?
糖果盘 candy tray: 9 I! p* Y% u% \" b* j! s* Z
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
& ]; w- \0 {/ [+ ]* ]& \ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health # m% J" k% b1 K. Y& \0 K
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( W* ?5 S! {. z7 ]" ~ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. k& G i+ j3 I j 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 F) @4 R/ l# ] 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " Z' c: G9 Q) l% P' y5 G
红枣 red dates - prosperity ; s/ H6 U& g9 N- s8 ~7 A0 y
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00