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Spring Festival Words & j) h. Q! n1 X
Greeting Season:
$ @6 a1 c; {; a; T2 i2 K- x 春节 The Spring Festival
' `9 _" d( M) u1 O; ~6 d6 q 农历 lunar calendar
4 U6 P% r: A& ^$ f0 s+ Y8 ?/ g 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : a- T! P0 W/ O+ M4 r/ Q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 2 q" p3 k2 j& M* a0 J
初一 the beginning of New Year
8 y) B7 G6 F7 ~# R 元宵节 The Lantern Festival , b( t1 v; B0 ?' M( J2 I" I( b
Customs:
0 D5 g$ L" w) z6 b+ U9 a 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 J* E6 `8 X' H d- h
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry / k* x: u" {. o) t( B
春联 Spring Festival couplets
9 V: q! k: m, f% `: c6 w" a: v0 X 剪纸 paper-cuts
5 q& }0 b- }( u5 b 年画 New Year paintings
+ b5 Y! w4 l! b* v$ h" ~' }8 M 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 P: m$ E/ |# O+ @- j% y 敬酒 propose a toast
) f% q& p2 P- D' [1 |- X/ r 灯笼 lantern: a portable light " j4 v4 N) G. N* M$ t% [
烟花 fireworks 0 c3 }% j! S+ r% E7 w( p" c
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 3 Q( \( U# X+ d5 ]2 u
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
- X7 V! Q. s+ l0 @# N4 R7 [ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) $ n& {" g D# M# c/ ^8 _
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ I# P6 L/ b" j8 p6 n L 戏曲 traditional opera ; M6 T# H+ l5 C
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" O6 {9 n9 Y+ D, q 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 5 K9 V* V4 S$ {2 [# ^* V; \" W+ g, {
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 0 o/ j! _- J; x. b( F0 S: R, [
守岁 staying-up 2 A' Q3 w5 }; {9 c1 d
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, z4 M% O$ P, D 禁忌 taboo
6 U X2 Q$ r' y' `6 l) _! P 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ( F% Q) H3 s0 R5 r
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
2 n7 y0 c( S. O, L9 N- c% B" X 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift # \& i9 a: d- @0 q; s
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 k3 T2 J5 E! A9 C4 p1 c; z* m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 6 }; S! K+ Q1 p1 k
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( _% r; _9 w Z0 {2 o% _ N7 s5 q
Blessing: % W3 |0 C/ m# J/ M( q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
& }: y5 ~; a/ y Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! Y' L, K8 M# S( q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
* @/ i- K0 L5 g( S 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
0 `4 L. |! j" j+ k: C 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: n8 \& w( W6 i Food names:
! V: H6 ~5 ]8 b- y; y3 q 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ! a3 J- p/ v0 c
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ' c( Q+ B6 Y" y& U# \
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
. r- n& W4 b; P, m6 Q: @: i 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
0 X2 P; a* M+ i" J$ S0 ?; y9 }4 m) g 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
/ g5 _; c3 |# Y) [ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( p; \% w6 y1 \6 d" ]' r% h
糖果盘 candy tray:
' y- H; ~0 [& {7 W+ y; @) T' i 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) k- H, l& X! ? K0 b
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. O, k0 @$ Q, m7 e, i1 ? 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 7 W2 {. t# B6 O: D6 `6 h% m
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
8 k8 m; P1 \; }% o9 t 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
4 h$ Y) h2 d5 p" j7 G8 Q' ]* f 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 8 Q& F! E! P2 n- A
红枣 red dates - prosperity & G* q: G% U3 `! ^6 C. x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00