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Spring Festival Words V( L, n" Q/ e' h, F0 g
Greeting Season:
- x$ g+ q1 p/ u9 ?8 a 春节 The Spring Festival
' D2 A5 r; v+ S 农历 lunar calendar + f! E6 L8 \$ m6 X+ k
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
& B, s" O; q3 T1 S' I' F 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % X5 E. b- V8 a! p2 ^; p& @! s
初一 the beginning of New Year
- W" g9 n# L$ `9 T- M0 p 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ; ^& z4 K6 [% I0 f% S
Customs:
: x% i4 S$ n* T1 G 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
: r, S7 k0 Y/ x! _ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 F* N; a# p/ I. w3 I; {4 o+ z0 Y
春联 Spring Festival couplets
+ ?4 v6 }+ ~3 j0 r. k' { 剪纸 paper-cuts
7 W8 ?& ^. E& n/ a( x/ x( T 年画 New Year paintings
# \0 a+ w" f% `4 R, @1 y 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 7 x6 i$ D' p ?6 B
敬酒 propose a toast
; C, |5 O8 @! R* o+ n, z( l 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ' }3 |) [6 u& {6 I Y! ^
烟花 fireworks
( _: G2 A9 [ N- s1 @* ^4 ]- }& b1 Y 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) % P/ g9 {, X9 z3 S3 `0 U3 W7 V
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) - c* { R. }+ m& O8 U+ q( n
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) % x( Z$ d. l5 t+ G) u
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 5 S4 [8 ~5 e1 E) z! |! V+ P, i6 T$ j
戏曲 traditional opera 5 b4 b% d: K- _, m* V
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
1 }7 B; R0 w9 b: [6 S 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! z+ f3 X# Q. ~ J- O7 I
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
1 v) Y/ T p, c% G/ Z 守岁 staying-up % f$ L7 f0 e( O0 R, Z, r
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; r) Y+ s* ?8 }" R. b I 禁忌 taboo
' `3 q; S' V( G/ S! J4 L ? 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ; Y- ]$ t# H7 W- ?3 D6 w8 j
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
e' b0 V* n+ n% ?# W1 B& q 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * h: A: ^& f% F
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 6 Q9 |% ~0 p* g+ R, O8 i8 Q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
* o8 R; \& [( D D6 E: d 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 2 w! L1 |( F1 d
Blessing:
* @; K+ F) [2 }! e4 a Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 G' F* ]0 r0 G! l# `' B/ E
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
; k, L# r: }/ M/ \4 D! R. F Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . I' O$ g ~, }6 ?5 r
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, [- `! y w# @ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ) i! Z( e5 I0 z% G) k2 n( m* C
Food names: 2 J4 v/ ~. ?; V. d. l
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake : D5 ^1 r: X$ A$ v0 ]! O+ ~
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
) @ M& _9 V5 }; {7 |9 `0 \$ C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ s- q- H/ s; Y2 S$ A 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
6 O* F& b( q+ F, ^% ?! s* K 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, o' V. n* {2 y 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
5 ~; Y2 Y9 I! P7 \0 [ 糖果盘 candy tray:
: l# K& @0 F h: U 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
|+ Z; I0 h& G$ x! u/ S. J0 F" b 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ; n8 C6 @, o* X8 Z$ V: A
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) l+ @- W9 s' ^1 e5 Y& K
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 0 O3 ?* e6 n4 D8 l& \# T$ t
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
$ h6 S1 M x b. n3 s$ O 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship % F+ G. b1 \# E/ J# ^
红枣 red dates - prosperity
7 I* x1 r5 R( X1 P$ c! J7 @ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00