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Spring Festival Words
* q, @; U* D6 R. W$ D$ Y4 R. j Greeting Season: + q3 m3 x( w2 d6 P
春节 The Spring Festival 6 Q1 N1 R0 ]3 w# Q" ]- X ~; A
农历 lunar calendar
: I" R# Y2 f; S. U1 W# z 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
8 ?2 n- W* J3 q8 a7 ?# Y' w" z7 ^ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 9 F3 l4 h4 i& V# M: o+ N
初一 the beginning of New Year * v, D1 k( Y$ J' J7 @) o* y
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ( g h0 w/ A3 n' W1 G3 P& A/ O* E
Customs: 6 U" d6 D/ P* _9 s7 G
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival + [/ g# H+ L/ f' ]6 r- q* ^
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( m( e; C/ C) M, {" l5 g+ a 春联 Spring Festival couplets 9 p" s2 u2 e9 v0 c/ v2 m6 p
剪纸 paper-cuts 8 f+ t2 Q' a& A- S3 ^' n
年画 New Year paintings : E G& k% K3 V/ ?
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ `1 Z9 r0 U2 C 敬酒 propose a toast
; z* o0 z6 T4 B3 C 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , h- [5 J$ v( [( r) C: A& [1 P
烟花 fireworks
) W* t4 q$ i9 o- ?9 s 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
/ k9 d/ k5 y, [. Z1 [ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
- g1 y2 ^% M# _, `: t" q 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) $ l, R0 B4 V, U3 m+ K* q
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ; ?" N' E% W4 k3 y/ S! C2 j+ |
戏曲 traditional opera
9 q# o" p w3 g& a3 J 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville n, n% W8 D& Q3 H- c* P
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( S- u9 t, d' U- G( X2 ]; E- ^
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 V0 c, y7 u# j: x8 w) ?/ O! { 守岁 staying-up
2 x1 y! X; `# U 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
- E6 h% |8 n9 N, W 禁忌 taboo
( c# v4 n; U7 N" g& ?$ n 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 [0 ~: O) q# Y 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ o. O7 U- o; N& _( m2 T: q' Y
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' g, v% |; e& U' f( B
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 * f! c$ v; _7 {1 D: g
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
4 p# z# B" K9 e5 b P/ r% m* j7 D 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
4 s3 n. u0 o+ e- c Blessing:
: S# b+ W- q+ Y Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 X4 C' Q6 d s5 j7 E
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace . l/ |6 ~- S/ R/ J& e
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 1 j" H4 u# i6 f1 ~# l* [% _$ J
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
2 G M+ K! H3 `- o- _ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
# m2 @2 u. ?/ G n% [ Food names: 6 F) D8 f; I' F& v3 y8 o( g0 J1 D
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ( g& B/ u S) W- ?
团圆饭 family reunion dinner g& D3 z/ M& X2 [+ F; Y. s( w
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve " k2 S# [) X. B; S# N
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
9 d9 [4 l3 u8 b/ }+ [ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ! }! s+ P P$ G. m) L% T
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 0 i5 D$ b/ i" h" K2 ^
糖果盘 candy tray:
( A& e# [/ f6 B7 O/ S/ \ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 ~9 Y4 ]" i* T1 S
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
3 k! y1 X4 W: z) |% s1 a) P% C 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
: O% t8 x5 ^( s+ f7 q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 B/ `: V, J4 D0 ~3 {; D& Y
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
$ K* z/ h2 K5 \ \2 X1 I/ ^* e 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
; ~# `1 ~; i- S$ N1 A) Y/ S 红枣 red dates - prosperity
! \2 g4 G/ l3 q5 j9 F( w 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00