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Spring Festival Words
3 E" o' `+ T0 I {- @ Greeting Season: $ V# ~8 d+ ^( q8 \( F; h
春节 The Spring Festival ' y2 v# Q3 R) }% Q& s) Z
农历 lunar calendar 1 d% ?. \7 ^: I3 A5 j' F7 _
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
3 d7 E9 N/ B4 k+ V 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year : ] M1 v' v1 {
初一 the beginning of New Year 3 x( T+ N' e8 Q: {* e8 }7 [& N3 X
元宵节 The Lantern Festival . _5 z. \. d1 Z$ l; g
Customs: ) s) X3 q [- u$ z& t) G$ [
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
c+ |4 l2 {6 r( b8 O- o 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 0 m# r* h% ~: h* C5 R" o
春联 Spring Festival couplets
9 B) f5 T ^2 K, T% u3 R8 Y- r! s 剪纸 paper-cuts 3 S& A! H9 O+ I) J3 ]; Y4 b
年画 New Year paintings ) {& Z7 O8 V0 N
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
2 ^; ?- M2 N% `2 r 敬酒 propose a toast g" G0 b a" E- z
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
$ u/ N/ E4 w4 D( M& ^( e 烟花 fireworks 4 B+ p( U8 ]2 ?8 N& i
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
1 @# X; N" M( ~% t 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) - g* ~3 p( d# L; h
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + b* ?6 E( D2 c% @% G' ?& d5 z$ C
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
. ~0 f- T/ |/ N# B 戏曲 traditional opera
. [. g+ O1 N0 P( j1 {& v/ l4 { 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ) E: N- I/ K x c. S* o5 D" O
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 m- f8 d' l4 h 灯会 exhibit of lanterns , X3 y7 p; r J
守岁 staying-up % I, B. Q# l- x4 _* ~3 j+ Q
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
1 G# ~2 z4 k' d( c) b 禁忌 taboo 1 D) t) `* u, ?
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ) ]2 @: a) f5 y7 W1 G& n1 O! {
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
' {4 D, U, f. o h( F f/ l 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift & N* D! w h7 o0 m8 H% y! _
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% g0 M1 L" ] Z 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( ?" v2 C. Y/ _& r" U
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
, s$ |2 {$ ], f/ f4 t" \/ T% k Blessing: T* B; d; f' N% ^
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % \& U* d3 t g
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / M) e1 h4 ~: I- i1 ?
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go * q( p/ c% r" ^
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
5 d" _9 q7 B( w: h' R/ p' O$ V! L% h 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 7 r" p8 E/ R% B7 M5 U8 K/ u
Food names:
# D3 j- E+ n+ C$ n 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake M* s# g* L$ ?; I, L& I: |
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 U' J* n# e5 Y) q" V. R5 I' a
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
+ U1 r t1 [- o P 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
& Y6 p# P) O% [* W0 M 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 r! M5 o( |6 @8 S: O
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : s3 c/ A4 t2 b3 m; q8 h
糖果盘 candy tray: 8 E5 M4 M0 t. J& c
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 @! A- n3 B- N( ^
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & [: j8 Y: R# Z+ U8 B ^, H, W
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity + T0 n$ v) V0 Z4 i" c
金桔 cumquat - prosperity : ~9 [3 E! v: f1 i5 E4 c: i' V
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come q* L: [: Y5 a# G0 W
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 3 ]7 L F8 |1 ^+ _: G9 M9 x
红枣 red dates - prosperity 1 g% b- T J2 i9 d- \/ i
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
