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Spring Festival Words
7 E( A l- L; X$ J Greeting Season: 6 j! X7 J# ~+ M
春节 The Spring Festival 4 K( t. x, t, R0 f5 D& X( l
农历 lunar calendar
; |" J. a' z! ~+ _" R } G 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : O) [" q; k* F8 C
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 D2 W/ ]2 U) g; n. h; | 初一 the beginning of New Year 4 Y: u5 ?% X- m; a
元宵节 The Lantern Festival & {! i5 D. }" w- s; G
Customs: 7 m7 c8 K4 s. a3 j7 k0 [. H! }8 i
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival + B7 o) p- I4 t6 Z% c8 R
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# E3 k( D/ L7 }. n4 g: p" }" N 春联 Spring Festival couplets
' Y6 u4 @. v9 T4 L c" Z 剪纸 paper-cuts
3 [' ?- _8 Q9 L {0 q, f4 G8 I 年画 New Year paintings i, `4 g9 M, D; u3 [8 v& o
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
7 `$ \: V3 u0 P- A* ^( h& M2 T 敬酒 propose a toast
& W i0 G! t3 I2 i A3 n 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 0 |* D4 r: B1 d! Z
烟花 fireworks # P& J$ W( e. E1 @
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
: ^. S- \+ {- G+ a( \2 }+ P& @ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
$ W, @$ G; A0 N5 [ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * R% T8 @3 r/ {
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) / c( h' C% A, y6 l6 u( U% \
戏曲 traditional opera
c# u1 d& z# m, ]: O 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
7 q# Y1 k+ q$ `2 J& j% K- R$ j" A 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* a9 K1 ]; D1 |8 P1 _ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- f" L$ s9 s3 s7 L8 s 守岁 staying-up
* q% S4 C ~) M/ I7 u 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! O8 N) o# s( ^ 禁忌 taboo
6 [7 _. Y8 V4 Y: V7 A/ O+ r 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune # L' i% _" _2 b" q- q: ?0 ?
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # L- P0 v+ c$ T
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift . D: Z( B1 y1 W7 A9 ^
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
a6 c" j5 O# i" y; u- N 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 1 o; f1 T; J9 Y G- i5 T% _
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : X" w, J% f! i/ c9 J
Blessing:
* W( d6 E( G8 {: U# j Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 1 h$ D! K2 S8 J: E9 P$ ^& e% _6 o
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
0 q2 V/ G0 X: b+ L* v0 _ E Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 X' e- O5 W$ M: z
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ; E0 s! G3 [8 n! e
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. y6 s' B' R2 W, ~( G' k9 E/ h Food names: 7 Z. y0 C1 h& G" R. m' u0 v2 i
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ V. W- q+ S' _6 a 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 0 i4 w: [1 y1 C9 o, @; ?) c& n- [
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , U7 C6 |" D- E0 ~' l* N" y
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
, F3 W4 `+ Z8 q8 V/ V 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings + `3 [6 I8 [4 K8 u' n: }& w @
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& Z' g6 M9 K1 B4 ^ z 糖果盘 candy tray:
% \" @! F1 F/ n$ I f 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 k! e/ K2 V# M8 w0 J K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
7 S7 `2 e4 ^; Q* E* Q8 _# _ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 8 Q- O" a1 A) K/ u% z
金桔 cumquat - prosperity % |1 ?+ ?# Z$ o' m
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come % f' @2 z, l) V8 Z7 ^+ w( h
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship $ k* P- J8 h. `9 n3 c' Q6 D- u
红枣 red dates - prosperity
+ ]0 E6 n4 b# Y% l1 R7 Y1 a 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
