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Spring Festival Words ' q$ x9 i0 D( ~6 |
Greeting Season:
; `3 R0 t: w# V) [& s& N( C9 V6 e 春节 The Spring Festival 3 B! ]0 u d8 v5 x- `4 Z& F% G, w
农历 lunar calendar ! A5 ]% a! M2 ^4 d5 _% b
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ t8 h8 g! M7 H; D. i- M0 o2 b 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 K2 t3 F- |" E+ e3 q( x+ a 初一 the beginning of New Year
# s# p6 i5 }) a: w" t/ {2 g4 n8 M 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
! w/ Y* }, ]6 V! b& @% A5 O Customs:
" ]0 @+ p8 J5 x( v& J2 F* S 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & h+ \8 U4 Z# H# {: t( A0 O
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( x) c: Y; \$ z- j: N+ [* v 春联 Spring Festival couplets
: m. @5 x7 S* h$ g% t8 p 剪纸 paper-cuts
9 }! e1 r4 a1 H/ V# q 年画 New Year paintings
; e2 h( [/ C4 p6 b7 `8 Z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. \* V* d7 d X! ^( S5 y( r 敬酒 propose a toast
: i& }0 U. m; Q8 X0 x 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 0 p1 S, ^5 a/ Q2 S
烟花 fireworks 5 `6 `, M. _2 h0 \4 z5 x
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 9 h* c$ _9 U! @
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
) j' u1 B3 _, G6 _9 u4 f* x+ b 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 1 v& M p6 R. e; k: D
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 0 Z: \* F' Y5 v f/ l4 t
戏曲 traditional opera
5 ^) p4 d {/ W+ Y/ O1 W4 x 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville # L3 K- \, n5 u
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
/ s8 ^# o7 v) ~- E" B5 E- B 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 9 T2 z9 L! |# @3 N; H4 ?/ y
守岁 staying-up ! a6 F. t9 c, V/ ^
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, D' ]& u6 |- O* x6 k: }/ f2 v3 W; u 禁忌 taboo - M3 z3 r( `, K( ^
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
; J# H& J) ]9 N5 ~% S; u 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: h& q% J4 b* Y) Q) J$ K; p, `9 a 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift / W% C7 [% j4 K& M5 O* Z
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 # T) j6 s S- W: ^8 q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
- M! ^5 j H" @& a- ?, X- o" I* X 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( X, P3 a4 I e Blessing:
* g$ {0 u9 I# W+ \ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % j( v1 |9 b' I1 A2 c# [! x
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 j' s: Z! E- I6 H* ^0 r8 V- j Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go _, I6 ?2 m5 X2 e) D" P% I
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 s- Q1 {' g% P# S& F' L" I8 ?
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
& N6 m J7 ~5 ]6 ~ Food names:
! O1 W7 \9 U9 q' R 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ( M9 H, O- F& d$ |9 V$ k: {
团圆饭 family reunion dinner % t* l6 y$ A2 j( Z
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 ^* x/ T# x! [. D- }
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
- ]" d/ i# ~& F 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings * u; ~, @+ N. S$ T6 _. [0 n
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. N Y! r, Q- y. [! {4 r" O( {' d 糖果盘 candy tray:
5 Y7 l% L. S0 Q1 j( G) _9 m 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 M, w: N+ R! u/ Z1 ?9 Q: @
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : w: _8 E- g7 C2 f+ o( o+ M
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , G/ V2 B1 O. G! B+ |( f
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 7 X& i7 Q# I( f; _
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 1 u4 r4 g$ v4 Y! ]
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
( y0 `) d- u4 [# A 红枣 red dates - prosperity % R$ H% V& ]- s7 T Z2 `! S1 z+ i
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00