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Spring Festival Words
" P* m! m$ t" l2 r% S Greeting Season:
6 S4 p7 S O7 Y1 F& ~6 X 春节 The Spring Festival
- ] A3 k" ?7 O& m2 p+ m 农历 lunar calendar
& c8 }+ q2 l) y3 a$ c2 r6 F 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
& z) {/ _) |9 N4 {: S+ i5 T6 F 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 l' J' [1 ~5 V9 }) Q/ q" w2 F 初一 the beginning of New Year
8 c# p& ~4 Q# j2 J8 \" D 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 1 r3 H7 Z- X7 G3 _+ ]# a
Customs: ( r, ?$ E: H6 A, `# u
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' l9 o' _) }# W2 m) q! Q! q1 @7 J6 { 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 6 G9 D) t' B" ~+ T
春联 Spring Festival couplets ' v8 ]' Z) ?* m" ~ I, _
剪纸 paper-cuts . l" x% Q% b( |* }! {% M( c
年画 New Year paintings
@7 ~! J& u" e6 p/ D 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 8 x& O8 }, I( X6 E4 Y
敬酒 propose a toast
5 m9 _, @* C, n5 E 灯笼 lantern: a portable light - p& ~/ X) @5 O
烟花 fireworks
. s2 w9 I, n" H* p 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; F& d: A' m, b7 f* i! `0 @ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 e m4 R) }8 ?( o 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 7 c; k' u; |, O1 Z
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
/ }) b o6 S' o* E7 R: o5 A 戏曲 traditional opera
2 r. B7 p9 F8 U6 M 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " A8 F0 N/ v: Y1 [/ F
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ G0 ^; l1 N2 e9 e( T# e$ u 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
5 q# A( a" N5 w3 m0 L8 H& ^ 守岁 staying-up
. Y2 ^0 S: R5 K9 M5 c/ \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit d3 R& ]! k+ k. ~ i
禁忌 taboo
' u0 a& B+ o! v$ l2 M 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 L c0 ^% {9 O1 r5 f+ L' d4 F" [
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 3 }5 y( ?* H1 s- h1 x0 \- e- b4 l
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
/ ? Q/ }9 t' T' g+ D* G1 B( l" [ 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 2 f% m+ V# s% e: v& ?. S& f5 s
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 0 `) B- R: ~% N3 s
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
. b* H- C3 K( h Blessing:
8 e! b0 b- X, `. V, a Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 q& o& B% {1 K5 W
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
6 a- |+ ~6 x2 N% q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 Q: @ a- C" ~) G
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ; |* \& T4 ?0 y& W
事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , ]) T+ m) |7 o; V$ z
Food names: 8 ]5 R, l# \- |+ V/ g0 j
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
$ \" i7 n/ s: M/ G# ?# k 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
. I* {) [$ I. H5 @9 H( n( R 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 6 c5 `5 {+ U4 |( B) ]; v
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) s* v* x& w" y 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 6 V& M4 u3 F6 M& Y9 K# w5 \0 ~" J
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " F% @6 X% q4 a
糖果盘 candy tray:
- y- C! G& i9 B 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 h8 R! K; Q1 T; z5 {$ N- H
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health + L: v' |2 m( e& m1 E: ]/ ~, H5 Z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity + E3 x/ @# h; @% d) Y1 K( N; q
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
# H1 H/ Y' ]( X- _% y" [9 b! e/ D 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
2 I5 d( J/ p6 c( r 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 8 F. O3 d$ [* ~7 L' J: i0 l1 V4 P
红枣 red dates - prosperity ! j& L9 ~+ j3 x! ]% _1 \
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |