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Spring Festival Words : b7 [$ Q+ b7 R" Y! T' M7 m; e
Greeting Season: . s9 p" P+ ?! _* T0 ?
春节 The Spring Festival
# e' |2 S) N1 z' X 农历 lunar calendar
( a# e: E! B9 f 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : p; J; s9 P% [
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 6 |! h+ F! J: z
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 ^* g/ x5 P" s5 O 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 e3 z* E# p( N5 g" s Customs: # z' p& ~4 d$ K N; p1 u/ I7 n# L
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 2 n% F/ y9 [3 a9 I5 Z2 M
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry $ P4 a2 \0 b# Y/ Q' Y
春联 Spring Festival couplets & T. _. L% v4 U: H4 ~
剪纸 paper-cuts - |$ }8 M8 M2 O: l/ y6 H8 E
年画 New Year paintings ; o7 D3 {+ `. A6 M l x
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; l7 w1 c& n q0 B; H8 f 敬酒 propose a toast 6 o! H4 R# f/ H" }
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ) g& ]4 ^7 g' Z x$ Y
烟花 fireworks
, q L5 p/ T4 P5 }" O* ]7 { 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
# W# N. P" F7 y: R 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' n Z* [; b x+ o" A+ C% x, J2 {
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 5 P1 ^* }# @/ b2 `8 H) {9 ]0 b
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 D* @3 \( I7 k# u1 h7 z
戏曲 traditional opera
; f. T1 y4 U/ F" p# |, W$ o 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
[# z6 q" `7 W6 O4 C: r3 @$ M% y 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 7 l! M4 g8 T; H" h
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
9 @* ~1 }; z! y 守岁 staying-up
5 s( n7 e% n' a; g! a: Y* o 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
$ |. i/ c; Z$ z, n7 U5 t* M* Y8 k 禁忌 taboo
$ }2 k, {7 R4 R% i 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 G. ^, V1 h7 H1 t5 |. Z- G 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ( [" |5 k# \8 t3 f, P; y' \
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, y! g4 G$ @4 C/ x$ ?, A 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 . z3 e# w }* }8 u& _4 @2 G
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ) q: x4 }& n9 W! y
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( q& g" J5 y2 B1 {5 C' x t8 C4 z
Blessing:
+ r& {4 |' n5 Z1 G Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
3 C' v) e0 w, M% x Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 4 F4 X1 [: c1 t3 ?4 ` L# k ^, p
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 f6 M' k: @9 p( _
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ; W8 w, |- i$ u2 e/ y T2 z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 k0 i+ ~1 H8 m a3 Q* y: a Food names:
0 y" e3 w- X0 y( Z \8 Y" ` 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake H9 b/ y( f- A- G! F
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
$ B H+ E0 M9 R% ?3 A7 [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 0 K; N3 S$ } ]' a. J1 ?& l' s; l
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
5 M% @. z# O N, ` 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, B2 ?$ h0 [0 k& S2 r! v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
9 S7 w* Q7 ?( g 糖果盘 candy tray:
0 z) H S% }! ~+ N8 \ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ' h6 c: H) V+ P+ V/ X- n
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 0 K! s) Z/ t X" W# q: F
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity - [2 V1 @% J+ ^' L1 |9 c: R
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
! c( L c6 {- {7 h2 o6 s 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
+ s1 q9 @1 ~2 w% y$ u4 L) L& } 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , w; W5 E) c6 ?
红枣 red dates - prosperity : t7 U: I) s$ L9 W1 L* e
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00