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Spring Festival Words
9 F- b7 q' a! ], |' k3 @ Greeting Season:
0 i S! }, u- z7 J( n$ [7 i 春节 The Spring Festival
* `: D5 V" X, b$ g 农历 lunar calendar
' H3 c; j. }* n5 q: F; d! D 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 e$ |& B& K/ K- `: B 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* E% g5 j5 B# W5 [; _ 初一 the beginning of New Year 7 Y0 y3 P+ k9 r5 f# s' `8 `$ z
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ^2 H4 X5 Q6 W7 f& P, F% ~8 Y
Customs: / E1 e: r; B# N* J5 ~1 Y" Z% x
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
" F+ Y8 P( c3 e' ~# ?+ B5 G 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , `! [3 Y" M: w$ P; y- } i6 @) u
春联 Spring Festival couplets 4 p8 M& M9 [( {9 G w& @
剪纸 paper-cuts ( k8 P$ ]7 {* N% {$ ?" `
年画 New Year paintings & H" C9 V b4 {' `
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# ?+ A# o6 a( _9 c6 c) Q! u) [- a 敬酒 propose a toast
3 u: }6 t4 }2 K0 m: s" O 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* q0 E% u) R) ?/ c9 ? 烟花 fireworks 3 V) D9 L) L: N# t) C# B1 x
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
" U) v5 ]- O: D6 s1 n% l 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 N6 A+ P+ t* D" S
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) % x n' [* i4 R) Y
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ' k+ k) I" G4 n) h0 f
戏曲 traditional opera ! V$ Z" {; J2 Q8 l
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ C3 l: Z# O$ G+ m9 A, s 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , o% B5 D8 ~3 v3 {* S
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
2 u+ n4 H7 ]8 Q5 ` 守岁 staying-up - y2 E$ d c: i, e2 h: `$ E
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & r: w5 [" F8 k) k
禁忌 taboo 3 j( Q2 B9 t( W) I4 B
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ! X4 h& `. \$ ^
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 0 ?/ g8 X! Q2 h
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 8 \/ [* Z- p; w: L5 l( u
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 % R, d4 R# R" h# G
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
) k" g6 P1 D0 [- R 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 W9 e. i- O* V# P' `& c4 e% K8 I: J Blessing: 1 [2 i* A! d% G% o0 V$ s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
5 k9 k& c: E7 `4 A, @: n Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
6 `+ A8 l$ u! ? P Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go + N% O P7 [8 k
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! V# E) g9 i7 r: Y
事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
6 i$ H/ Z# r2 A; a( f7 ~ Food names:
8 B6 [8 K C3 l 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
0 J) k) ~) t. l7 G) Z# ^ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 5 s' f9 D8 C; y1 y
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
* M; d; r3 l- w1 z$ ]1 Z4 c# J b/ T 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
+ R, d) u0 x% N9 V/ [3 ~* w 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
6 M7 c+ p1 u5 z9 V* A( p 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ) u4 m( _7 c2 F- D
糖果盘 candy tray:
: ], A9 f6 q; D8 L2 u* J 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune + s; T# v% g8 ?( n# s) p
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
9 A; q1 o* i7 k 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity $ M; {. S! y% ?6 c0 V
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 o+ D0 U5 e2 K& O. M2 q2 @ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' C( u% |: ]6 a; O0 R4 m7 ^ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
' n u7 \# E1 o' }1 M; H) L 红枣 red dates - prosperity
, g9 p, X8 B. u1 ^7 c" c0 L 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |