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Spring Festival Words
, b8 q v$ m! \( g, \ |* {, Z1 _ Greeting Season: ; c" }3 M+ Q8 w2 X0 Z W# K
春节 The Spring Festival
. `7 ~/ |9 o! O: M. O2 U 农历 lunar calendar
7 I3 V. l ]* t 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 2 d! Q Z; Q* s3 R
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 6 j6 k$ I! u5 k) `; i/ ]
初一 the beginning of New Year * z- t6 N# a5 B8 r
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
6 w7 Z/ E! E n; f" V' U' N Customs:
0 ?+ a1 k/ H8 k2 t 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival , v8 j' E# E9 X1 |* U0 S
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
! k/ l/ {$ |" J" R2 B( _+ U 春联 Spring Festival couplets
5 y! K# Q* v8 m- J! | 剪纸 paper-cuts
8 g6 w2 m: b, \/ H& j 年画 New Year paintings 1 v4 h0 Q. w4 w2 | Q
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping * C! c" [( \9 _
敬酒 propose a toast 3 W8 P+ Y, d8 _* l
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' I: g, d+ [/ C9 s) l" \$ W% ~
烟花 fireworks
1 D6 n M% \6 t* X' j 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' ]; d% I; i0 i0 q 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . p( E6 L8 n2 u! a, _
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ! X- v- z9 m# {5 o# }/ M6 _
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
- j, \: c5 A* l9 T 戏曲 traditional opera * v {' f1 |/ v H5 [ H9 i$ j5 r
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ! ^8 r/ r+ s6 E7 ] h3 J/ W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns : C" g: f4 q& C _: Z: c2 P
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
: |# m: T6 j* L9 V4 a$ ? 守岁 staying-up ; Y* Q3 A( G, X" j: z
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit % v: V/ H# C/ a6 U$ o. k! I
禁忌 taboo 5 V; ~% ^0 }6 F: r% f) {4 `9 y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
# M' i, r& _: H' @) s 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
/ Y' G+ N# N* Z x9 e" U* h6 `6 {. f 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, }- X: R/ x/ o# K5 a7 j 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 6 ~4 D+ R# I: X! G: K
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 0 `) u8 a$ [+ I0 g* L; d
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
0 l! W0 K% y" W. l Blessing:
/ V2 a2 o" l6 x$ ]5 f$ C$ z' a) h Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" Y T R) h9 w. }: v8 y* ` Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace " A8 G3 x$ B; d, V! R& g# `8 ~8 y
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 b" A4 ?% c' o
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! - t& h! R& u0 I' L3 s5 v! v p
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 7 e, z" D# W1 G! n
Food names: 0 z( q g& m' W. y' y# ~5 I3 N
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 N9 }; s3 a) w8 A7 o 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 V. Z; [6 P5 `; g6 _( L/ |
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
. K. V( @- U; e5 p 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli " _( z. I0 J* Z+ W2 {/ \, c5 k! d
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ _$ s7 ] K% r- o: o1 C
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding & o) `. [ o! b
糖果盘 candy tray: ' p+ K x5 L) p, S+ ^3 U, _4 Z
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 G# F1 r2 P+ U g- @
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & y; @3 n* c2 v P. Q
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 7 K* ]; x6 D( E% m- w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity & J1 E. B L5 L$ J/ k0 h. v }
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
* M. W/ H( K( l9 V# x/ M 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 1 o4 t: b6 I2 X* s+ a
红枣 red dates - prosperity ; x) m. o+ b+ q3 G( D" @6 t
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00