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Spring Festival Words 4 Y5 \/ Z4 m- h; b0 d! }8 G K
Greeting Season: % Q3 e6 c. f6 c! }) N. n7 \! Z
春节 The Spring Festival 4 s0 Y# n- C/ h! d3 k
农历 lunar calendar * i5 t1 O5 ~4 r# L; U: t6 z
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 M& ]# N( H; q/ P( X6 k
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
- r% p9 _4 _8 f0 T 初一 the beginning of New Year + A2 l3 a9 s! W$ C4 ?7 H) V' v
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! j7 {8 V, v4 I2 Z
Customs: * A& x9 R# }0 m# @! u0 G- O
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
( R" q7 K. j! l" D6 O" J 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry % m( F1 _0 n) q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 s# \3 Z$ C0 l' X. z4 r
剪纸 paper-cuts
6 [ z4 c5 p# D9 R 年画 New Year paintings 3 X* X) q( w. `/ i6 Z5 P. R7 i& ]( y
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 S4 O$ y2 m! N
敬酒 propose a toast % r* ?5 E2 I. }+ a7 O) y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
) `' j3 d$ R7 x6 I# O) U, g, H 烟花 fireworks 6 D1 v! `# `3 X9 K9 @7 V3 j5 S
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) : |$ X% }& U, m- q9 U8 J; W- u
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) U- E9 g! L. p: {" i9 p
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 4 l2 x8 j1 q+ `2 ]0 c
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ' T8 O- S* y! i: x& @
戏曲 traditional opera - v9 U' Z) f- [. {
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( a6 _* A# A( P! d0 F; S$ l; Q
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
9 R5 T4 `+ z1 y( Y; k 灯会 exhibit of lanterns * w- i1 m& n: l& z0 ]$ l' [
守岁 staying-up
) ?# o5 C9 Z4 V- F/ ` 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* K1 n; ^7 w: ~! ]! p7 L* D 禁忌 taboo
$ Y: ~: c. x6 H W 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
: t6 @, Q) b6 z* z' i; ]2 C 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
D7 F# W8 N6 L7 x# t0 \. M 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
; W& I5 ?% {' H 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 S- T6 T+ a: d$ Z; ^) K
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
' {1 U" g/ e2 i8 R" A& G- B 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 6 M3 _1 v3 X7 `4 A6 c% J3 ?' l
Blessing: 0 v% R- U" T' p& x0 j
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity l+ y' S" C0 @0 W- e. E( p
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 2 h( r7 z4 j/ j: p9 w
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 I. C4 Y( Y, l, ^' G( t Q3 P2 a& W 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
- \* @& p5 N# h% F 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! T$ q2 z+ n- u; E& S- v3 o/ r# t, g
Food names: 3 \- m4 |9 f; _+ j; H+ K
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake # s* E( b4 Y5 D; [7 A8 ?4 e/ J
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
9 i. K; {. T/ W4 q h 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ `$ V' ^& P) l 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 F) ^6 f9 g6 ]
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
2 `" B% t1 L) w. X8 j! @ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
: [1 ~4 A1 ]+ Q9 @ 糖果盘 candy tray: ( v& r9 f; P' K
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( g: C8 p& x0 ]# C, ? 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health - o* {; E; ~& N. ?% |9 w4 w
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 8 ^9 ~- W" K) {) V- g+ l7 [
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 9 C. @& E' S3 I% w
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 1 Z x1 `/ X. m" ~; W- e( z
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
5 Z3 [* _# {; G m& j! e 红枣 red dates - prosperity
5 h* x( z, Q) D" g: }2 _" Q 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00