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Spring Festival Words
, P$ B( ?& W5 g8 |7 { Greeting Season: ; H8 R- p" g, [# n' V
春节 The Spring Festival
U8 D1 c7 F& k) o6 w 农历 lunar calendar 3 }8 s/ g7 |3 [& d' s
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' O3 i) M9 l, W; [' C |
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 O- D# J' q' W, p
初一 the beginning of New Year : {; F# X$ k# B0 L9 n& n. l) C
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
6 H" t N) X0 R Customs: # U% [, @" x1 H0 D
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
. d! p% c! N: j4 E# W 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry + |3 G8 p3 @. K' L) N q( U
春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 J+ h% g! j0 U; V, i9 Y 剪纸 paper-cuts ; J v6 F9 {0 V ]! H( [
年画 New Year paintings ' ~4 N7 G# T& w3 K4 L" ~
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 }0 @+ }' a& k1 ]) V# C- ~3 X
敬酒 propose a toast
/ c6 u* n3 f' T; N% [ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light : [4 m0 x/ ~; O M I0 ~
烟花 fireworks + y5 k2 H1 B3 r0 h. s5 o( X E
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 m! ?3 k5 y( ?6 V: f7 I1 g 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 n! P' E; `; n/ U 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 W# A7 d. _4 @* c6 Z' u8 s1 U' @ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' {4 Z5 t- g9 k 戏曲 traditional opera
T& b; j6 t' |# H& O$ s 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& y* t8 u2 T" ]3 q7 e% p 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 i+ F% ]1 M: z) s
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
* K6 V, L" [" T2 g) ]9 ]2 K- z 守岁 staying-up
2 b& V. i, }/ p; z& V/ \: w( s 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ' v$ _9 e& |' ^9 U
禁忌 taboo . _) U8 h6 L1 I& l# o
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 v/ y% z: W; h0 n6 ^9 O2 p e8 l
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & d; S5 \& r* R; H5 C1 J" \
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- ^" ~/ a) Q2 [* J1 s+ o3 p7 Z0 | 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 9 h$ n& l$ f8 Q. X4 j/ d0 O' y% J
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year % z6 i$ _9 D( Y; w) K8 w
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ]8 o, D* \; p# y7 y0 Y. y
Blessing:
- n* l0 {+ }% F5 ^ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity , v( T- P2 E/ X3 b- J6 T, ]9 ^( l- A6 P
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace - B: U" X$ l) j; H
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - U/ k* D' p6 W
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 1 W0 S/ Y5 n1 Y6 E! N I2 d. L
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 6 o3 D, f2 c" t* _. {
Food names:
5 \* V% [: k% i2 }+ M+ h 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake % @+ K7 Q& V( t4 W, [: F; I/ Q" @
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# f% E3 b0 v8 p 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
$ h) {4 n- g8 B$ ~5 S, {& m% Y, R$ V 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; ~; B1 ?+ h$ t, ^6 }
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " b! Y" P5 d1 E& S
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
$ e# }9 D1 N" h- E( b8 M 糖果盘 candy tray:
7 c3 ]2 r* u; G" e+ H 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( Y- i& r4 h0 l; J* c
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
3 `+ K, i1 R+ S l& M0 F, c W 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity - [0 M- U$ x( [( ^! }% f& D
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
3 W* K; M: W! o4 @, j m _+ r4 \ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
( u4 m3 t# `: K& |$ |" S# V* r R 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
5 f; B8 N* C# b: s- i3 c2 `5 p, Q 红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 u' T7 s# j/ ]7 Y2 y! r 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00