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Spring Festival Words " E9 x) K0 G+ B" E
Greeting Season:
$ Y5 I; w( i6 @ 春节 The Spring Festival
/ P( H- v- [8 a: v8 |0 P 农历 lunar calendar
1 X, G9 G+ C0 K3 P3 L 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: g, \ s @" z. H7 L8 ?4 C6 m# V 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ) |$ A7 o" l# n! b* a, c* B
初一 the beginning of New Year
/ v/ H4 s) o/ K7 y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival - s) y2 j% A$ x% `) _$ s9 Q* L0 a1 r
Customs: 1 P) O( [$ L' X+ C
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 J& }. g' p( d& d. M# d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 }4 k: R: V+ b8 y4 ?2 Q5 R
春联 Spring Festival couplets - O. H. }1 J a6 l
剪纸 paper-cuts
* ^0 I( {% T7 @( _! w 年画 New Year paintings 9 \' L/ x' S3 o0 N6 q
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ ^5 S0 W- j% `- B 敬酒 propose a toast
, P( Z5 Y$ G+ t3 S1 V 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ) K$ M5 o+ A- e* q Q! v
烟花 fireworks
0 W1 E+ z9 a: e; j! [' u* M 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) & s: V! J# K2 V0 I$ f7 I
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
. ]- p. h4 _% n; L$ F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
9 F# V1 A% i2 S: X1 [& R0 ] 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
" ~4 }! b5 P, z8 D8 n 戏曲 traditional opera
9 E& Z4 X! N2 _% ^. u, K: O 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville * M5 Y) N& E/ f2 x+ P
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ d" _7 r- P8 U 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 0 b" O- Q. s# b- }+ d6 a' c
守岁 staying-up
9 P6 D0 _( J' ~' I6 H 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 D5 _4 J7 f' j: C" ~
禁忌 taboo $ h2 C8 C r% w
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 2 r! l8 j: x+ n7 R( ^0 e4 @
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: r1 n- b' n8 R1 f$ ]6 f8 b 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % m w: E0 h8 f. G& y/ K, J
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 ; f( B' r2 N& b# @
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / o" m3 ^) w e1 _ v( F' o: O
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 |- O8 }3 N4 Z/ g6 D3 g
Blessing: . Q7 x3 }, Q9 U+ Y" k( [2 N
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . B9 \) B, V' W5 {3 w
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 7 m* c6 L: U. f/ U) m
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . [4 L, J, o- k
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 s2 w6 t0 {4 |" N! n
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
# m- j* r5 P. \" d5 C Food names:
% Z( H* {# |" S 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
?/ e- }* k0 U5 R* O- } 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% B& c4 S7 l9 {! _ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ' T! D$ Q l$ |9 U) N0 P9 _ {
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
3 r4 G2 j2 U1 \ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings . D, @3 p2 B5 f, N n. M; z Q" d
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
~/ `# c2 u- k* H0 p% R9 K) A& s a 糖果盘 candy tray: * Z7 t K% y8 g. J* q: z, P4 d
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) X, v+ W9 a$ @4 @+ M7 A% e: E
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health , e4 B% O5 ?4 n# q) z5 D4 c) \
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! e$ ? |+ \( | 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
# B1 D7 W$ P/ t- B 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 ^! W* n1 B0 M* z4 h' V g
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ; y( T6 p* K$ o' i7 z# d5 Q
红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 a3 c0 O2 q! j3 x5 W 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00