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Spring Festival Words
7 n# k- H& u( P$ X, m% u. Q8 z" m Greeting Season: ) x$ Z' ]1 s6 @4 ^. c. g! T
春节 The Spring Festival / _. M/ M$ \: ?" q2 P
农历 lunar calendar ! t2 b1 J& v1 ^# q6 ]1 b
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - z/ S) o F( | t) e
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
8 g, ~5 J Y' z$ H, f 初一 the beginning of New Year
% @) N" }# E* d( |( o" d 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
4 t, W+ I! x6 U; E \ D1 W2 \$ z! ]8 u Customs:
* _! e5 k: }1 x9 D4 _% ?+ T* D 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; O' ?8 Y' D) A7 L" t7 n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
3 t4 f6 I$ ]% @. T( {* n, v6 t 春联 Spring Festival couplets - g/ R4 b- w. ]+ b
剪纸 paper-cuts
( i3 q5 Z9 V1 g 年画 New Year paintings . R1 d; q- t3 {# c' m5 p1 V
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + H. Y+ ~9 B' n. K N }
敬酒 propose a toast
/ [. |0 h% H" }; K+ c6 G$ [( X 灯笼 lantern: a portable light + M* D* A- [4 f# W
烟花 fireworks " r# s9 Y1 T. t0 v/ W7 |9 s
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ ~+ v( h6 I& X& f ~. T3 l 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % B) {+ d& Q* B/ X7 M
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 U3 j% ~2 h1 y' T% K8 D
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . \5 e. G! ?$ r2 h1 J- `$ [
戏曲 traditional opera 7 I" M$ H) q. c/ a, y
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 4 I2 E0 i# b8 S5 X9 N$ L
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns " l$ Y' Z! J1 K- g5 J; P* j+ b
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
5 J8 N/ ]6 n- G* A 守岁 staying-up
; _) K$ j( |. V. S0 p. y 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 Y5 Q/ _9 |$ d S# z
禁忌 taboo
: ]( _) u8 e/ v 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 9 h+ |6 N- l) o9 i
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & K" K5 G- Q1 [4 D% C( F" I8 k
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 9 l( `& @; a' Y6 ~
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
! p' b) W: y$ j 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
2 C+ ^; v6 n6 @ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " q$ g1 Z/ F( U- z, {
Blessing: . B7 H. X. ^% g
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity & J4 u6 q- W0 j4 T+ b' g# L( K }
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 8 I& V5 F. `. P9 r V
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
% N& r) i/ s2 y7 V! ~: F 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
+ m* w8 \0 n0 _' k* A8 n 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 2 p, x+ o) Q! L, i6 V) r# W
Food names:
# D8 N2 o1 d/ @7 E& { 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 4 O+ d- M% T4 g2 i: d5 T8 r1 y7 f- T) K
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
1 k( V8 J* m9 o" m5 a* T5 [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 V! k Q% ?/ c! |9 e% ^3 I 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
- a0 a s2 f q; e% N 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
. b# A+ I5 [; g3 R! P" T* F' o# h 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding / [- m3 U5 m7 S7 X
糖果盘 candy tray:
/ }4 ~: \; H a, _; g 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 X7 _' x( c2 [. J
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 c3 f5 h: ?3 f8 `, I3 s 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 4 z% O6 _8 ^/ [* f1 J0 L, {$ e! w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
* W! O0 A% H/ W/ S+ Y/ w 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 2 c% w0 F9 J/ D7 z. y: N
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ) J Q' H0 k; F# k. ?
红枣 red dates - prosperity
% G0 S a: C, x( q" ]) o 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00