|
Spring Festival Words 5 c- i( l |5 t8 G' B
Greeting Season: ( x" a4 ~6 @1 c1 e, c
春节 The Spring Festival
6 ?2 s y- x# ]3 F+ P5 @! @ 农历 lunar calendar
0 }6 K* s X- I# y6 e, G0 e 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % V: q8 j) e: @( O' v9 p* w& \
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , B. Z7 q- g7 w0 {# E8 p0 z
初一 the beginning of New Year
% P- ]- b, Z4 U) a- x9 B/ g 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * Q* M4 b, R1 {
Customs:
2 G. e# R) b1 @7 h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival P, K. T) V0 {8 }* }: d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ) ~* X$ D( Z9 Z* F& ~+ _6 q5 q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 n; ?& Y2 M" n0 J$ o: E
剪纸 paper-cuts ! G5 ^. I/ a2 H# x
年画 New Year paintings
0 U5 T# A% @4 b$ i- n$ ~/ Y) z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 8 @" C9 }. S: e, @# g
敬酒 propose a toast
- U1 }% s& w7 u+ [2 Y 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 G' V. t) J9 m
烟花 fireworks
6 Y; `" `1 a2 m 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
" ^" d4 l7 U* w6 d5 F 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ! L M# u1 H' x4 |4 L) S
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# L' d2 K0 e6 d" ] 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # N7 ~1 V) ]) b; E* j4 b& W: o
戏曲 traditional opera
; U: |8 p2 N6 P' k9 l% [$ I3 A 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
( k2 n( G- D. f& a1 K1 S1 l8 Y 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
# j6 }0 A8 j% c' I0 L( O: d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns $ m5 @# k: u4 o
守岁 staying-up $ h- p+ b) d/ m2 j
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! t# v# P/ A0 F0 O+ j0 l
禁忌 taboo u! d; d, s0 n* Y4 ^3 C
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 4 M3 U" C2 q4 H- x1 i1 e3 U$ B
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
1 W" _: X3 j9 w$ N 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 o' i% g) B* Q5 L8 m, p' y
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
& ^( U3 V r( s [$ C 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
6 l$ R/ {- x; }$ N; ?! R& l0 Q 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 1 h0 h* H& W4 H( y2 ~9 @
Blessing: - Q. a( r0 t3 ~, l d: w8 h
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 p$ C: j* a, M9 u6 `- Z. B( l; @- Z4 v
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
1 ^$ z( p M4 V+ ]* d9 A8 a4 r Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go _: C% {- L% }$ \/ x4 i- Z- Q
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 Q- y( K( W$ V" P: m, r
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 f+ H# {' F+ G3 g Food names:
5 P, A, o5 L3 D: u4 P$ | 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 8 k8 ^$ p) `0 k2 `
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 3 T5 F- ~" D) U5 M B) a
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 f4 d' t: s ?; l8 N 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! V- O$ Z- H, E# Y; e* W) F" j6 z% j+ X 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings * d$ u! A' v0 v# i9 \0 W, s' ]3 @9 [
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - H3 Z' h0 ]1 F' H
糖果盘 candy tray:
" @# i5 t2 ]6 \! Q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 c7 l# x+ ` _) \2 z0 H
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
6 ]: f r2 X+ Q+ @( F% B) W 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& S+ g4 a# L( K, L# n 金桔 cumquat - prosperity , E. R" \2 a8 Q# u, G8 o. h
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : x- `! k: S; @1 u3 P
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , S( B: J# _* e1 V
红枣 red dates - prosperity , b. F! J# s5 Q5 ?, M6 w$ s! U
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00