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Spring Festival Words ?6 b* R9 E$ k
Greeting Season: & n8 R* e n4 Y A. h* ~0 d
春节 The Spring Festival |; s$ f% Q6 k( c7 _' Z# p
农历 lunar calendar
$ i9 d/ s9 |* H# {* c 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' E" E4 \ _* ~1 e9 L$ |3 s- Y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : U/ {3 B* d" H2 s
初一 the beginning of New Year
! H4 \* }( n0 i$ @3 t7 N$ C4 t ^. z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
g& F1 u2 c! | l Customs:
6 i' t: `' i* t, X9 B* m$ h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 p" \; Y' w {6 v9 I, i H( a
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
* t3 N1 m: ^* t8 x( \: W; `# m% h 春联 Spring Festival couplets . ^& P* L9 M) X# c- r0 k y; a
剪纸 paper-cuts
( F8 b8 j% r8 P# b1 _$ Y 年画 New Year paintings
1 o5 A, `9 [$ Y# }8 F& h3 o 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
6 ^9 j2 C" t: p" _ M9 b 敬酒 propose a toast
9 E# P# i& U/ ], v 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* ~! w) c4 P1 e1 ^# o, K' {/ i4 |' p 烟花 fireworks
: D* j0 S2 ^, g* ?0 k6 P$ x, c6 { 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 1 e' r# a3 X% J0 \6 U4 \
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
/ F7 r. [: c7 e5 E 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% }7 l: `" P: F1 N. C 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
|" @5 c4 S8 P 戏曲 traditional opera
& ?7 L: c, x- E 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* O9 K3 ]# \2 Q h4 @/ d F 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
[2 C8 o4 }6 E: ^% D1 ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 o( J! i) j5 m3 Z5 E [7 I# _/ @
守岁 staying-up 3 V4 w+ [$ B# f q, Y; g- c, P
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; r3 P, M; r& K5 q& Y) ?6 m1 O7 l 禁忌 taboo 8 i. f, A' K, `; @: g4 M& E
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
$ \; h0 q3 i8 g$ t4 T) m' ]7 n 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors $ X. e) |1 i2 z' b# `$ p& `) u3 T
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 2 \9 I" i: Z) g9 C0 p
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
8 l; N5 W3 z8 r" Z8 j% k 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 2 J8 B7 }+ u& e4 q1 {1 d. X
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning + [. }, P% X5 a' D E ^
Blessing: & I9 c5 H1 s8 g& I6 k( w* }
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 o0 F! s- Y9 G: o. ~/ U
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
9 V I* [( k1 j0 d) O Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
5 Y6 X7 ]+ A; | p 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
P( y3 C4 _7 X/ N 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! $ U9 H1 q* D! `- N" V U0 P
Food names: 5 R; l* S# d. |
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " T% M2 ^/ s9 ~" J6 l
团圆饭 family reunion dinner % |- H& t$ c( A5 M
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
+ r5 i ?! W$ s, |: p 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 0 A1 r, n+ U; B w4 `" T' L0 i. u
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 t5 ?* i" E2 P7 N; T 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. d) `4 r0 h" Q7 m, T' G 糖果盘 candy tray: ! n" a+ O8 m* Q8 C: Q$ `3 @6 `: N1 l
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 6 ^ H/ U/ P2 _# y7 j
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health # R4 X0 I& \6 D
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) ?( x3 l/ B; v& n4 z+ {9 R7 A
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 z# N6 F" h7 m& y* b! L, g
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
3 K! b; ]0 P2 R, H$ W! E 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
! x H: f r" [ 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 s+ W" r, V* v0 k5 p/ d, `
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00