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Spring Festival Words
/ c7 ~. L9 ^: m Greeting Season: 8 c' M/ [; X+ z# p4 q
春节 The Spring Festival
4 D/ K% D9 n0 q! h& [1 C+ j 农历 lunar calendar ( a5 g5 x3 j- H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
- v8 ^; s& B, M Q 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
9 u. @* _* z8 E+ A8 U/ ? 初一 the beginning of New Year
) X" n" f. I3 C2 L5 _7 I 元宵节 The Lantern Festival * y/ P, j$ o* A- u5 u7 {
Customs:
1 n1 L! S. Z" T { 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- N( D7 E( Q1 o# }0 N 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
3 D- X" t: Y' P6 C9 a* ~; S 春联 Spring Festival couplets
) ] D$ k/ Y3 z 剪纸 paper-cuts : C5 R/ R' r2 W- j: o
年画 New Year paintings 9 ^- h7 ~+ y1 C( t( o
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
1 w; V; A w! H- |* l1 Y6 I 敬酒 propose a toast ; O( F4 A }. X
灯笼 lantern: a portable light . G, C3 K1 O/ ^3 U6 v& v4 u
烟花 fireworks
4 Y T4 |( f. w$ I; \ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 g5 V2 `% s! \ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . C3 l/ j" p# O, L
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) % ?% C6 y5 `% w% W
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . m% T9 n& C I; X0 _! q3 i
戏曲 traditional opera
+ p* p$ N( ]' d- I& k) g 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 w5 n% i" ~( P/ Q
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! ~( s( f, M. x/ a! Z* W
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
! q1 D0 v |! E 守岁 staying-up
. o9 |! Y" R% n2 Z/ h 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! e, [: Z7 f: h$ @6 E 禁忌 taboo & ~# {; r) U; w, H; F
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune " N h e% O+ j( E! R" H* F
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
) \4 `0 u2 \) I+ X& F8 ^ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
; D: K3 e& t! P/ t9 E, j3 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
, |' c& K/ n" C: G8 F& C 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & D7 H- W) q+ f3 L6 r. m. f
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # H! K. {' z3 q1 s0 w
Blessing:
1 \$ `5 u1 B5 _! d6 F6 u) g Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
2 I0 K6 }) B( c% H- A Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
5 B6 a/ @4 R6 Z' w; N/ ~ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
/ b# f+ x- d0 b) x h' |# u7 p 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 6 G/ C' h# `1 q' Y! L8 G7 ?! p
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
; B" A8 ^5 K" {) D& D Food names:
T4 P( X( j1 y# N 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " M0 d: Z8 e" X; I6 a7 m
团圆饭 family reunion dinner - e( i' k' v w; b, s9 q+ X: o: g
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 5 [2 l* r0 N' Q% B R9 L
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . f/ D- a( \9 b% y
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings , O" W# Y. i( X% w( q9 t/ Y' }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; c. W* o* B$ f% G. w3 ` 糖果盘 candy tray:
3 E1 h6 U7 l1 r$ ]9 f9 F 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune : A" y6 V2 p3 ^$ d6 f2 r9 K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 @/ w/ m3 r4 h7 ~ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
8 z u9 F# i, \1 x, N9 J 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 5 X1 z8 h" D& r; E: p( V; s& O/ b' v
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 6 G% _. \% C) `. P- N8 t1 n$ B/ X
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
, s5 D; F* _# A6 m 红枣 red dates - prosperity
% ^* \' k7 k5 z" S$ {$ M( M 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00