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Spring Festival Words " s+ T0 `, S0 { Z0 I+ D
Greeting Season: ( D1 b: A5 M H
春节 The Spring Festival d, ^9 d2 P. N/ {; m) i
农历 lunar calendar " H2 O6 M% N8 t' N! t2 ?- L
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
1 `; P v0 k1 p( ` 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
; S$ h7 X2 J0 m" F/ g8 k 初一 the beginning of New Year
4 k) M' ^4 H' ?; @, r8 q$ } 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * r% S" N7 a* ~2 J
Customs: ; e# [3 a8 V5 t1 _
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - ^" b& x# y# ?, N2 g7 e+ T
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry " e4 i$ {* @; B% ^. x/ |6 o
春联 Spring Festival couplets
" n9 M# J, x1 q: @/ \/ { 剪纸 paper-cuts ; @4 M5 I5 ^5 R# o1 Z2 w! c
年画 New Year paintings W+ [, \1 k" N8 D
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 d% `) w K( |5 G
敬酒 propose a toast 7 L! U) ~& ]1 @# f% ]% `: r) i$ r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 6 R% w1 q* Q! f
烟花 fireworks * c9 k& G9 i: l8 N0 ?' O1 O& r
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ?4 l8 n: F, u, Z4 [# B- j
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) k- S2 M$ j$ s5 P7 Y) g
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
8 J# V+ v8 R! e& c$ S8 d6 U& ^ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
+ p- N9 i9 D, _1 G 戏曲 traditional opera
: }) |* b! g$ N5 y 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
_2 L4 E- ~1 W# ? 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
& X; j& J9 `7 s/ |2 d 灯会 exhibit of lanterns t. A ?; ~3 N5 [
守岁 staying-up
4 M$ i$ @0 g# Q. N/ h; J 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit - K1 x! j3 U: n% ?
禁忌 taboo % @# v. O8 D1 J+ m2 q @
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 F8 [5 @% o% B5 c 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
8 x$ u2 Z3 I8 ]) X 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: g5 O; S, R0 X, N* }4 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
9 }3 _- F ^3 ^ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
6 I+ o3 I" p- h: {) ~9 [# x( h& O 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning % A8 ?4 y/ }1 x3 @7 Y' T+ u* M
Blessing:
6 X+ \6 V9 o8 d Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 a V5 K! w* L. G Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # m3 Y N9 Q. u% t; T% a
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
8 t5 A, c# `" Y) o' J9 t+ y1 A% D 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# r# x9 `1 F5 m. o3 V 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ; \( n: r9 n& E4 H/ M
Food names:
( a, f ?2 N* }; Y) H, R 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' `! t0 D* T; ?# e+ O, f% v
团圆饭 family reunion dinner c/ p& d& R& x
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
; W7 x( F, Z, H9 L9 \1 p 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 I; E- h+ I7 X- n `: x# r% s
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
: V1 d2 _7 ]) O# h0 r) ~' g! T 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 6 e( k+ n9 a. n- z. b
糖果盘 candy tray: ) D: E. T6 O5 T
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
4 K: { P+ ]( d# Q6 ]) B 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ' p: N. l0 V$ A$ s7 ~6 o
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , p, Z( v) N. o# C" H" b
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 o$ @3 [ ]7 _1 X( K 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
& v: z" @! ?+ `& ~9 F) ^ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 7 M6 X# |/ f; [5 g' Z
红枣 red dates - prosperity
/ u6 p1 V2 }9 f9 [& f! ^$ ]; N 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00