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Spring Festival Words 0 F6 f) `2 b# @, ~9 G8 X0 A5 {
Greeting Season:
# Z( O: G# R% i1 Z5 T 春节 The Spring Festival ! c) C6 x% Q6 a n
农历 lunar calendar . w- n0 N- n2 L
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ b3 ? ?5 a3 ^ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' k" ~7 ?" H# H. Y5 @2 z 初一 the beginning of New Year # B7 R8 j2 L4 G' f9 d
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 2 ]5 K: [ ?- \4 T/ e
Customs: 0 z# T0 L( i/ x6 w9 ^2 K/ Z
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 p) K& r2 e( U& D; V 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
& T& V7 m# T+ e 春联 Spring Festival couplets ' w$ \- O! ?. a) Z/ U: Y% N
剪纸 paper-cuts
' G( M4 p1 ]5 G* d- A: U' g7 B( @ 年画 New Year paintings
: u4 t/ H" m" q 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 e) @5 p6 C) V! u$ ?9 [+ G: M
敬酒 propose a toast ! Q7 v& P( J& b8 p! [2 J
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 c* B8 }: h8 z- e$ J6 F' X( g
烟花 fireworks
* ], S8 W. B/ t1 e+ V0 g 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
& L# _) ^) B( Y) ?3 C9 H 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
! I6 ^' f6 @* s- [( v9 F" H 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
6 |6 B! `1 h& R2 H- L- C! k" [ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ {7 }: Z* {- K" g6 R+ o 戏曲 traditional opera
8 e/ t2 o. Y, E' K. j6 [6 o4 t/ b 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" N+ @: p5 r0 {2 }. a 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + J9 @5 |; Z) i2 v& q! K
灯会 exhibit of lanterns ' n% s _4 k5 d9 N
守岁 staying-up . P* P4 W! u7 m( m9 l$ K: g
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( R* D3 S' }- Y4 Z, z' ?5 L6 I1 x
禁忌 taboo 8 y9 t+ b: |* {* j
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune % _* {( T3 A* t( L) C' t
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 p N' `# b& r! R 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
A: [, v& \! w1 m7 C! V) 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
* q5 x8 d* o# U/ i, V 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& T" y) W+ x& ?3 |& i 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # Q" R/ a- ?) x* m
Blessing:
+ P* c$ |, q9 L- F% t, F Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % x( y' \7 X" e+ o; `. y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- N! F9 F" k# g: K Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
$ U; c) M _" u 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 p: `; Z4 w* o* b% M
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* Z* q5 o7 X; P' x" r; \# R Food names:
$ h( X/ d' R& [1 F1 k! N+ G* E Z 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
( k* Z, L* \3 F* p 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 7 Z$ @1 M3 L" }0 U0 _7 x8 O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
! J1 W9 E/ z8 \" U Q- } 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / p4 J5 y% d0 p
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 l" {, z$ ?- h, r
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
8 x3 T- {4 |9 v# v, Z5 T 糖果盘 candy tray:
# g9 b. L# j$ E" K 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) |0 z+ n. u' H# E
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & j6 ~ n0 |+ }% p: T1 F
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 7 x7 M9 b) P& u4 ?
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 6 k# s5 W" G4 ^& r) J
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 0 U: [. |$ S- j. ^" g. V+ ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 H& h% R6 v, g 红枣 red dates - prosperity
* B7 J/ U0 A8 T 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00