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Spring Festival Words
. `; t9 v& T5 y Greeting Season:
9 S& ~ s- a1 ~& | 春节 The Spring Festival 2 J j7 B2 S# b: k& f
农历 lunar calendar
. m. h9 `- A" T% n9 \% |' e) K { 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) T( a! ~. g% { [1 y* u3 v
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ( z: `9 c. N6 U" ^- S# m0 `
初一 the beginning of New Year
9 M% k& J5 [- D3 j" P4 w 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
0 o% l9 y/ a$ G Customs:
+ }" b; l, u$ I; ]+ {# O 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " s, k1 W3 X$ m& P& N0 ?1 J
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 1 H/ e# G5 d9 h) o( Q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 d3 K' d* r2 l
剪纸 paper-cuts
0 N3 |. Y, \/ D3 z) B1 @ 年画 New Year paintings
9 R% c7 `2 R2 {8 N8 S 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
1 [. i M1 z- P# i 敬酒 propose a toast # p* @) [! |' ?" I& r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
, n6 K& F8 h0 i9 B5 u* e 烟花 fireworks $ ]% ?) N! y$ M5 A. _' ?
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) # T& L4 j3 T/ h& n; G
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 4 l9 f; O* }4 p4 w4 b; ` k/ l
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
5 b% s2 W) ]6 H) m$ r$ N: U 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) : w2 }- P3 r% Q( m/ ?
戏曲 traditional opera % ~* |. o" c1 S) x8 T
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 3 K9 A& s- d$ [
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 4 m& r# Z$ ~) h$ w' A' S8 a \
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
( g9 u, k& }1 J M 守岁 staying-up
/ ~% E2 D" Z- N# a2 b 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
" e) b, B1 `& O6 H 禁忌 taboo 5 n; {1 F7 B f$ P/ f0 |2 R
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. _6 u0 z) N; |9 I0 p' z 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: z, A" w: F5 I, z' p! d 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift & `- i$ N6 _8 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 + i) T/ v% i# ?) g/ @
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & b& ^ D+ i% O- m9 v+ X. s }
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' e# v4 }% |) v& f% p% f0 C! l
Blessing:
1 \. h6 i W) i0 W* I+ S- _* Y Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
$ _! M( `, y) e- l* f" T2 ] Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace * w* T- q/ a) J' K( i. O( j
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; C: f+ p4 J5 [7 T8 [ 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
4 ]& q9 d( n6 |) t9 U 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
9 X: a- @2 O# ~& | g" T+ D Food names:
) ?( h6 w( K Y 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ; _+ C# f/ [4 J% Q9 U; K" U9 ?8 k
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 r* U( D. Z* h/ e 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
0 L; g) q" I% O& p# T a; P/ t 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
4 _, F f' i! @0 \& ~ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
% Q& a7 o- N, ~9 w 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
0 o# S' M, n5 e- M 糖果盘 candy tray: 8 R1 T: g7 O0 }( S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * h: u, _$ l1 d$ B' Q& J
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " n9 H) ?8 |$ W: f# _
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
9 Y- P: V$ W5 Y5 p. M 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
" \' { y/ f' S4 C 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come : v$ L6 t$ W9 c# ~6 I: a. {1 R
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
$ l$ }& k6 f$ M' `; Q6 g2 u) o) z 红枣 red dates - prosperity
, Y- L8 v9 i4 y" H! Y 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00