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Spring Festival Words - C9 G* \2 R: \1 G1 r3 V* @
Greeting Season: : |5 W7 [3 m% q# o
春节 The Spring Festival 6 M8 {1 w5 {" @2 ?3 U9 e. S: v
农历 lunar calendar
( j% d& ^, t9 G b0 ~ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) o- e! }* o# U* V0 h
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
1 b) i- E' v& i1 o: q% M# r 初一 the beginning of New Year # {# f4 {! O. M' f z2 i% r" d% X
元宵节 The Lantern Festival - N) t# h: Q, v. ^5 {+ N! f5 {8 X
Customs:
" q- B: \2 R9 u1 g! T2 g$ R 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
% g: L# ?; a8 V3 n( D 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
; D9 o. R: ]7 V) C 春联 Spring Festival couplets ; b% e6 u; n$ g* l" y8 L" U& v
剪纸 paper-cuts
7 B9 _4 d2 I+ u% s3 E 年画 New Year paintings 0 P# g! k2 a" K% D' q7 P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( Q0 c9 M3 M5 m% x0 \! z 敬酒 propose a toast 5 T# L0 r& M: o3 q1 M) W
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 5 B% q5 ?/ I: q1 u* K: b
烟花 fireworks 5 c E+ u0 m& w7 ?( Z$ X4 R w
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 0 m. [% d; \6 @0 f
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 p* N6 x( n. w* |0 w6 K: X
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 p& e' y9 P6 Y+ \
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
# D. v+ A4 B' s7 Y# N 戏曲 traditional opera
# ]7 b- _4 h1 K8 a* q, ]8 @/ d2 m 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ' p4 S. K; U8 V# r+ r3 p6 l
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
& p" H% ]8 e- ^/ v3 e. U: A 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
+ g4 U5 d/ t+ b 守岁 staying-up ; F: E/ j6 Y! K" N9 e
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
Q; A0 \1 a* j+ ~+ b 禁忌 taboo ) l7 ~" p' i6 c0 I& `. B
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ) i$ K# j8 l1 |7 _% }; k
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
! q* q, h# {* P 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
7 z/ Y6 `; b {3 u 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 & z7 t( W$ w* a
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
3 r6 Y. c/ i4 V$ E, `% y+ d$ w 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 }3 n; x! U0 y6 K* A6 B; T6 e5 [
Blessing: ! S+ X# ]1 _/ z7 a* m
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity + a# T7 L* W4 }# L9 Q* {
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace , T, U! s. _( u
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( g& ~# S8 J; n* y% u m
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
; K* ~4 \7 H4 A) C. d 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( x7 B6 S3 G0 H/ `: p/ i+ ?: E8 N Food names:
( }6 k( y. q+ d, Q0 y 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
( K2 O% l2 f! o( w" M3 U; T" R# Z9 t 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! L; E6 X" M- o @, }' C S9 O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % z. o+ F$ z/ M" w7 b+ F8 P
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) y3 f9 E5 N* ]( W$ s+ u
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 F& v" g' }7 F
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ! B8 v9 r4 M. [) ?6 w1 ?+ @. F
糖果盘 candy tray:
; b3 y/ x, c9 ?- ^- Z. _9 X 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune . M$ k" q; {+ r8 [' l+ {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
/ I9 U- u( C0 H) p" }' P 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity - F6 A0 R3 S4 |
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 5 U$ x! J* u1 k+ o2 f! g$ R$ Z
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & k) f+ D5 t+ s2 Z) L
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 3 v7 B& Z% f% O* k. o
红枣 red dates - prosperity ) o* \) b( I: p5 g i7 F
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |