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Spring Festival Words
) x! T/ P' Q" h. e: c; u# n Greeting Season: $ V6 X, K( h5 y! x [
春节 The Spring Festival
4 C8 [( x) D+ t8 v2 Q/ o1 O+ E 农历 lunar calendar
5 C3 y) r$ Y" ~% d% [- U 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ J0 c+ \ G/ a+ P7 X0 i" p2 e1 T
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % Z. u; Q( b/ X3 W4 @3 F
初一 the beginning of New Year 9 n/ f ]0 {. V6 e
元宵节 The Lantern Festival P$ Z# Z4 H6 x- F* Z' V
Customs: 2 I' @& P7 k; g/ m9 }' [9 ?3 x& c: k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
3 `& t* U) }# \! ]9 [! t 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# \, U% V# W+ r% Y/ T 春联 Spring Festival couplets & n- l( [; F6 n- G! {$ b5 B
剪纸 paper-cuts
* o7 t7 D E3 \1 T6 l 年画 New Year paintings / \( `4 K* i+ s6 W) b ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping " J. u! E/ Q+ h) G
敬酒 propose a toast
5 O: z. ^6 D/ e- G6 z6 Q 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
$ w! K; S" V) r. p! H3 @ 烟花 fireworks
* e# s! @4 n# ]- |2 ? 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
g# c8 k8 A- z8 L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
' q$ D* s, i$ X 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 a6 q j( Y; P, V 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
6 V0 g. s0 W) a0 \: H9 i2 W) [3 g 戏曲 traditional opera - g( c1 F2 {# U( C
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: C# P K; i5 l' D 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* o' e# g9 V5 W5 V2 Q) |6 |' q- v 灯会 exhibit of lanterns / X3 F8 s* k# [4 k0 T$ P8 [0 m
守岁 staying-up + E- z. s4 a# R7 N$ n
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, |& ~4 \! t A) d# @6 |: U. c 禁忌 taboo 2 K: O+ n+ h" b9 I# Q
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune . \8 g7 E3 |8 s. B) V+ N
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
. _9 G7 K( r& e6 ^" q- A( L 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 d/ B3 }5 e) k3 X1 s7 Q- p0 \" X3 V
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 r# S! x. E5 A$ Z y. s4 E d3 ?2 @
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year . X) q: k3 S7 w
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning & r; c2 T8 R& ^" @2 f
Blessing: , h; S% m7 p: Z5 y
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
6 N# {+ I7 R) W Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. N1 `% } T z, }. |2 u& v Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go + M( j* g3 C; ~3 U- n* v9 G
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( i* f7 R! S; p1 Z; q0 v/ }, w# E 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 b3 F" B& y' y% i* V, P Food names:
* `5 @: M. E& G, _) j 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake & I- _( E/ ]. m. i7 y4 \" V
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
4 w- j& g- }5 t! l 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 W/ U- c( T" T7 i$ o1 C
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ! B# P2 _- f1 t0 h3 x' J1 i
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 8 F; e% z# M7 y
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding Z. d2 G: H' L( K2 G" U
糖果盘 candy tray: 4 ]; l& o- a: a
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 1 M! v$ U: B% o" Z+ G1 c
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
, U! U( M! p5 M 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( T5 L) h$ F2 B 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 u) u; T n6 i; l 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 1 E* K8 _- Z& ^
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ [. Z$ j' ], b. D 红枣 red dates - prosperity % \' s5 N# }9 L- q$ \. t# f- R0 c
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |