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Spring Festival Words : t9 D9 ?2 Q0 y. E' K* B( g; k5 T
Greeting Season:
: T7 Z7 ]$ I4 q! x5 ]8 n 春节 The Spring Festival 2 ]( K! K) L- t( S# `4 f
农历 lunar calendar . |+ t4 l0 O$ S, g: x( ?
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 @# R$ P4 i" B% I 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % |9 f+ t; H3 B- L& z( y
初一 the beginning of New Year
4 e" z% t+ H/ [ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 9 a6 o1 m8 p! C; h* B
Customs:
( Q& J( o( {7 E3 Z8 f- q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ( y" H$ s5 N, n8 B% x: j% f6 M" c! z
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( o4 _ r3 \' D. i; U$ E) F- W 春联 Spring Festival couplets 2 ~8 n0 }+ @* n6 J# A
剪纸 paper-cuts
' }* S3 V, q3 ]; X* k! K 年画 New Year paintings
) x) x6 M% {+ d$ J, g2 e 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
# z& h P$ M1 s% H% i 敬酒 propose a toast ' w( J" o2 n& w4 a* \' w/ i
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 v; H8 i8 ?- U, O- _5 ]# Q, d 烟花 fireworks
* |0 s# \9 T, J, h7 F* O/ q3 C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 z+ O& ^( H) L } 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) l" Y- ~* c0 b' j
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) n! d- J( E" r. E2 f' X: C: D 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 7 C9 M0 ~1 Y6 y/ K" u m+ \; h) h
戏曲 traditional opera 2 `; z0 @" ?+ \- z* a {8 |4 A/ b
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* w7 u; b9 H7 D 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , m8 p6 }( p+ \& u/ r
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 9 T, z/ p1 d& D, _3 T( n
守岁 staying-up $ ^4 }4 q( P9 k' @; W' X
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & V# J; H9 s4 `6 D7 j9 y
禁忌 taboo * Z# Y9 B' n/ w& t. h
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & A+ I0 C( u' o9 [6 y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: w% D- x" N0 s 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift . ` q* [: Q8 E& D5 v( h4 L
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 ! x) Q' ]6 Y4 b; m6 ?& P) l
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! [( R& W4 x1 F5 M& H: _8 | 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 0 F4 `; i) P& S% ~# G. D; E
Blessing: / G- g J; A8 r X- E' B m
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 z! t8 Q Y+ M' Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 1 X$ x6 s9 V! l- w
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go : N) M( F! Y" `0 X9 L1 Q
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* Q) Y6 k1 v1 [: l( c 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ! X6 u5 o6 L# f, D$ `3 \
Food names:
9 ~! B. N! |# Z% Y$ C3 k5 S' c 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
6 g2 L6 Q3 q( o, s0 ^9 ]2 c 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
9 H7 p& L' H/ f5 H! V2 `4 l 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & e, Z. K/ e' ]; B" Y" Z& F2 D1 B
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) f. p Z6 `' q4 G& J! g: c; _9 |
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 f' \! U" _# A& n- S5 `8 P
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : C; y- v1 g& w+ [- ^! S
糖果盘 candy tray:
1 R+ L5 _5 {0 R! b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune : h# Q" ~4 N5 `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 5 P- G# l1 J4 ?
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 3 ^ I) I+ q P% F
金桔 cumquat - prosperity + E4 D$ }( D, J* w$ }2 z
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 8 T3 N' A+ J2 ]( ?$ J4 Y. O1 I
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship + j1 Z1 x7 }' E/ l# Y/ r. _
红枣 red dates - prosperity " J& L9 |% c5 N' h* |9 V5 o0 N
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00