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Spring Festival Words + E5 H9 V7 s) X' E3 M) ^
Greeting Season: # ?7 ^, n O. L
春节 The Spring Festival
4 @9 L; o E1 `: z 农历 lunar calendar ( ` o M& o" k5 T
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 r- K6 r- N( T4 W/ i8 e3 J
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 5 W' w b0 w) U) ^- _& b: ^
初一 the beginning of New Year
1 V6 V/ }. `8 D. a$ e; S" C 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
" S; q5 E) h6 b8 R3 n1 V" f Customs:
* ?$ b7 j9 G" r* r( | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ! ^1 D# g6 q4 ~( s) t
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
. I; n2 t7 x9 J+ X O3 m% ~4 G 春联 Spring Festival couplets : {: y: Y! L% G. ~
剪纸 paper-cuts . B+ A3 W- P6 G( c+ h* b. a
年画 New Year paintings
% A: ^( \) N$ v% {+ ]3 a$ j 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ Z F1 g2 G, }8 L5 u 敬酒 propose a toast
. o$ Y" s- W, U. m" R 灯笼 lantern: a portable light R# C+ P1 M/ u% i- u& J6 {# N r2 y
烟花 fireworks - L! @; Q3 G! W; B8 y6 }
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) - @$ [! ~6 ~8 k+ \6 b3 \; B5 t" q
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 Z% w# r7 e+ l% \8 r7 `
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
' b* ]$ q$ R$ u1 q2 B 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % p2 }" T0 F$ s! j4 z
戏曲 traditional opera $ {1 z& V' P) m6 I' m( j( g
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" u: }7 Y* ]4 l, Z0 d: T 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns * q3 a! L' T W+ |6 t5 g
灯会 exhibit of lanterns ! p) R5 O% e$ c) Z4 u' S8 O
守岁 staying-up 7 u' O7 x( G. d7 N1 `0 r
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( M# \7 W1 j( f5 w6 i# E- X
禁忌 taboo ' W2 L6 E+ n, _6 U5 m# h4 @
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
4 T- @" Q" U( [5 k+ q 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 2 K1 m9 h, Q) V9 Z0 c
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& [4 y: K7 d, v% b0 ~, D7 S 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 8 J4 y' o4 g$ A
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year * @% j1 l: v* d5 m
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 5 j+ y) k! |+ z A" a( u7 h7 W! P0 ~
Blessing: 2 p4 R' j/ L6 s9 y# u7 W& c* o
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . K$ g4 g3 K$ S* d
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. \" e s) Q( \( V/ ^6 Y. ? Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
2 q- d. k" y9 C' S, o+ K9 M 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
$ V( s" P7 c9 i8 p# t 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* V1 `2 h ?6 B' @ Food names:
, s6 x1 ?1 e- v" e" }9 ~( l 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
* A/ z1 I1 r1 H; r; y, ` 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
+ A% C4 b. z# e& C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
) j% Y4 W$ \& b) w& C. i" _' l/ t 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% I) Z1 e1 ?& d4 N/ r% l0 ^ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
. @% D& a0 J) s. |& J 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
% X' ^1 Y9 Y" \0 u2 H. E 糖果盘 candy tray:
9 V0 Q! Y& o& x/ l0 d4 q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ M, [* [8 H5 B8 d
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " N% i$ O) M* H$ j( Y* Z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / P- V+ i. Y ^8 m. x
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ! Z. z1 }5 }. z0 C
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 R+ c" \, Z7 x5 n' H7 }
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - |% E0 h7 x2 [& g6 w& ^# ?
红枣 red dates - prosperity # R+ T0 V3 V, d3 K! C: p
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00