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Spring Festival Words
! a) X1 `- X/ G; A Greeting Season: " K) K) b M' ^) g
春节 The Spring Festival A! W- {: Q7 d9 ]3 j/ J
农历 lunar calendar
' |! K5 w* {( p, u' {( _: U0 _! t 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 8 Q/ R: R" C0 U2 _! ~
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 6 H( i& F. e0 E" m- a
初一 the beginning of New Year 3 ]+ {2 R/ d5 [5 `* a: O4 q4 `
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
% l9 H% X8 K' u) T' H$ J. M G+ | Customs:
8 |( W. U; S5 {5 M T. T 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & ]- G6 g* R) `7 J. j8 ]# ]8 I
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 1 i+ @4 G# o4 @' `/ I2 g
春联 Spring Festival couplets 4 Q4 a) h$ q- V4 U
剪纸 paper-cuts
$ b& O4 B# y2 [ F2 h' C# h( c" W 年画 New Year paintings
1 b6 T, x- a7 _/ k 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
+ u4 L$ k# {4 p9 P# s 敬酒 propose a toast $ T$ p; W4 z+ ^3 q$ i
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ) L0 y; S, u; I) H* }/ D0 W" W. K
烟花 fireworks ) W1 I2 X8 F/ m2 i
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) - b3 ~% u$ G( E' Z
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) q/ M' N. V+ G6 Z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 b: |' _2 } ?; N3 p4 o9 h. h 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( k* z& x1 `& ?, M 戏曲 traditional opera
8 n7 C- [8 J" }' h5 U3 k' Y/ { 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( M+ T/ \' ]' [) o- u( {* s. H
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns - Z' U8 c$ u+ p5 \
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 l. z. W3 I' l& L `4 J
守岁 staying-up & T/ h+ Z, K: s, ~
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 0 F4 B: a' z( @5 W1 e* J
禁忌 taboo
) ^4 ?/ K+ M; ]9 A2 C3 \5 } 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 _* F" X; [" q$ q( v) g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors Z% S2 a3 `% _% {, I8 t0 ?
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift + n' B- }. }5 ?* `# I
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
1 l" k A7 F, D. f 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 1 Z; S: T) |3 a
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " |# I. K* p, d& c# K& \& L8 H
Blessing: . a5 F0 `( j" }# B# D6 E9 l
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ( D6 \0 _- J8 ?: T# k9 ^" S+ Z# ^
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
% u3 T @7 C" T! e; f. d* D Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / R& t$ o5 r. x
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( e- J a7 Y- {: f0 O% A
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
. x# ?( ~/ o( D: H Food names:
& R' f. d/ [- |0 ? 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / [) ?6 I9 X' Q" i( k
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- u& F5 b9 x! a$ \ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * z% G# G; m) } @: E3 Z( j W
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli , P- K4 ]+ w0 q. Z! @- I
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 Z3 |" {- }+ L) o
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; P5 q" V2 _( p 糖果盘 candy tray: $ ~2 m3 o: S; m
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 {6 \* U% E- Z% _9 [
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
: g1 P% L0 S) M 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( r8 b, ], G6 S- ~( ^, c 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
7 p* L# Q. i- N3 h" T+ I q 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ( T* J' v @5 H" p% F
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & z- |. R% e, y& g
红枣 red dates - prosperity
! ^9 D8 @1 q) ?) q" Q 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00