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Spring Festival Words
* l. n% V; |, @( E0 l' N Greeting Season: 5 C, `9 t4 q- p R' I. R( r( a/ N
春节 The Spring Festival 1 R; U. i# [- C- a. k
农历 lunar calendar + ?! e" U5 E3 d' G3 B0 P7 ^
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar m. Q& q+ S& S2 p) @, C# Y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : ~% U2 p q3 O+ w; I! u
初一 the beginning of New Year
3 c( ]. B0 s9 }; Y8 [ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
: X! [2 B& r; c( s Customs:
# W4 }% m4 ?7 n 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * d; }+ |: M C+ D
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry & M5 L$ J% L% ?
春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 ~6 D( b# ?, [# I
剪纸 paper-cuts r5 m5 `4 {6 T
年画 New Year paintings
- e+ U; V: l/ l) M$ {2 L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
0 S5 [/ K6 N2 g$ H. W D' A 敬酒 propose a toast
6 r& X; b9 w% e/ @9 O 灯笼 lantern: a portable light $ [9 \% U4 y5 r0 M5 ~8 y7 G% N
烟花 fireworks 0 H* Q! {5 w8 n4 k
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
/ e! m6 a7 F6 _6 d: e/ G# L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 W0 \, [+ t# s( R- H/ O
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) # m. u! N# x4 O. D) ^( I
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
+ K! |' }6 ?& w' ~8 V 戏曲 traditional opera
+ e; r5 n4 }8 K2 A$ g 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " D4 c2 s, s' R. C2 R2 o: u, f) K
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
. J9 }+ }4 l6 J: A V 灯会 exhibit of lanterns + l5 I: [" g) ]+ O4 x0 Y% v# {- @
守岁 staying-up 7 z9 s, _; F% ?, r' }/ r
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# @& `) G" I7 {" X2 v2 X2 `2 ~5 X 禁忌 taboo ! y8 F* {4 ?' _0 i; ?! J" @
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
& v$ Y; U; ^3 I5 r6 z1 G 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
) @$ l2 e* K! O 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
' t- a2 W& U& p8 o. a9 K/ [ 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
7 H) b# |* t _) d( u7 ]0 n 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# K4 m* o ?( Q2 L' h9 t- b# x 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 g6 w0 v" l2 I, d u
Blessing: 7 |( o1 ~- E: o3 o1 b
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ; w* _ x; j5 k2 b! W# _" T
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
" [0 A4 O% Y) K8 s Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
( b2 [' F9 \! j( x: m 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! " ~, _. a* L* p$ h2 x
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: c4 U' @* Y* s% E0 b Food names: . f' ]& b$ D& c4 r V
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 2 C( D. J- K# p9 L1 J
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% a+ x8 S! W j( y. a/ b: m 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
0 M# ~5 ` N9 R 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; O& p( T/ u0 ]) Y$ @
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
7 V2 f+ n4 O5 [2 r% z( { 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
k, g( x4 q% g 糖果盘 candy tray: 1 r; f6 ^) o! |$ H* F& L( c0 A! M
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
- \# {% {: X; y0 |* g4 E1 o 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
3 I: o0 {+ G% v( K* i, _ R 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity & l8 z$ C. }5 m% B6 T" J/ W* v: l
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 g( f D$ U1 q8 i% x 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come " F7 B/ \: d+ b! `3 Q
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 1 \; g% L7 h0 J7 O9 y
红枣 red dates - prosperity + M+ `" R# B5 t
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00