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Spring Festival Words & g7 V) M5 ~3 ?# L2 p' q
Greeting Season:
7 v1 r: m3 F' x% P9 I 春节 The Spring Festival : H# I8 O: H5 f( I6 O* U
农历 lunar calendar 4 J$ t5 I/ W# \) a( i6 a
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 G) s5 m0 t" E) K0 H& ]. c; I" `- b: S
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : u% l: P( s. c& |+ R
初一 the beginning of New Year
% F+ I+ E. K% Q" K 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ) j. F; o# W# I
Customs:
# t0 A! L0 X( H% E+ g 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
: Y% P0 l' M* ~6 Y$ o7 W+ O% U g 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
' ?& I7 `1 z- @/ }, L- y3 @' L 春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 j+ R4 g t, h& e5 r* X/ y
剪纸 paper-cuts
" u% r- W7 h7 s) E( U) |' [ 年画 New Year paintings
6 s1 } q( g' ` 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. T3 Q o, Z1 x% |9 [& {3 y 敬酒 propose a toast
. P) l; e6 h" h( R. y; T 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- d2 A4 _1 F1 A& [5 c* J! {: X! [ 烟花 fireworks ! ?. a/ F; r8 `: k# u3 c8 K4 v
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) : ?+ n' X8 k2 Z3 n
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % R H9 ~4 ^5 @: D
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) - H* f, f" g1 d6 \' N
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
8 B. ^! ]+ M7 L3 F$ K 戏曲 traditional opera ) _ f% z. L% u9 w+ N# u
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
- e1 o! a0 g) J) R- y8 f$ W 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
( |! `' I' m4 K O$ H1 H 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 Y2 V+ P& s$ @1 u/ y+ O" f* z! ~
守岁 staying-up ! B. G7 c2 f1 e+ a$ |: \
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
- H# V% n( r6 [3 j7 e 禁忌 taboo . v7 i: a; S) @" ^ n
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 2 Z+ |8 y" M7 D9 [6 }
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
+ S8 ?. w1 b8 H 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift - v# ]+ q. d) U) H5 U/ 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
( ?- O2 o- {: w: ?% F) ^9 {4 z. `; k 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ m$ S% ^$ Z% H8 f( U: X 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning % s _+ a8 a6 C4 a1 C
Blessing: 1 s! w U z8 s+ ^" T y- D/ l$ g
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ' G* J" }6 Y6 p3 X+ F S& F
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
( d- e+ R8 q* w Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 T$ R/ S# `: K* e6 ~- j: g8 i* B) B
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
; s+ B c" O: I* y 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , h2 h- m' L" r5 [& P0 R
Food names:
, k/ G9 I7 S# s 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
/ X: b0 h' W* j3 e7 J: d 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
5 J; E4 _- v- {5 E3 B 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
9 }6 t6 d4 p& R* v 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % k7 @2 x/ S. h+ T" b! q) ^
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings . s4 g" P( w1 L# E
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
9 M4 H9 i- s9 J 糖果盘 candy tray:
' r8 s/ C) u- S5 E4 Y+ H2 ^, Y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ' I2 o) e% e6 R5 }
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
- h4 Z& x2 g5 h 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * h. L( m8 @% x0 m5 E1 @; U& K5 y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity $ p4 T$ J6 L9 _
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' A( H) w3 j8 B+ J% S3 q. ^
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship * U% s4 Z0 w* D$ g, O
红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 S- h4 Y1 ^5 d+ A: u, B9 m
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
