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Spring Festival Words
9 d8 u4 I v0 q; V& d% x, P7 Y Greeting Season: 3 s9 s4 f) {# e# V" X
春节 The Spring Festival . Q9 L' V( m2 a r3 _
农历 lunar calendar
+ c3 A5 b" s, v7 q# Q. U2 i1 h& s 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
, p/ U; K$ M V1 i* s2 Y 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ; w N: \& l* I/ ?1 y- r$ {$ _
初一 the beginning of New Year , G. v) q* N0 v" y. q% j7 h1 l
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 8 x$ g# p( R1 S, d
Customs: . M0 p% o$ L' O* ^
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
; L3 c* s: ^7 r! G/ Q+ v4 f$ X 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' k1 B/ r2 ~% F$ ]
春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 A6 I T9 r2 o0 u
剪纸 paper-cuts
! d, O, B8 z. S: `0 E. I9 Q 年画 New Year paintings / P( O; a2 T6 X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
. W4 { e( F8 z& g# l 敬酒 propose a toast
( M% [& u0 ?" p; _* ~ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light " C8 K1 t' R+ l+ u) A7 f# u1 h: B
烟花 fireworks
% N% O$ |& s+ J* C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
6 ]2 M3 l& b$ v( m `: Y 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
# r. u% @% u/ v5 X" b0 I3 X$ U 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : f6 W& V( n3 f# D! e( }
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) " w- w2 j1 i8 X& ^' V
戏曲 traditional opera 8 T* O/ t, q# d
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville / z% x" q0 b/ m
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 Y) S) W: D- w& ?8 h/ l* G
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 1 I$ m' q: J$ l2 D+ n
守岁 staying-up ' o( y% z4 w7 [
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 3 m; `8 C3 P5 P2 ?
禁忌 taboo 7 d7 e. `* f6 K G+ X, d9 ?
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune : [% ?4 K. Z- T/ M
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # _1 Q$ Q2 F2 y9 }5 ]
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
- |* l4 h# X# O1 k9 o 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 + A2 j0 E/ x4 C% t0 b
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' U0 D) y4 w0 A0 z
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 Q. h: G! C r- y! i2 e6 S
Blessing: / O( }: N8 m [3 _2 ]
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 1 I* D- R$ [$ b S7 y6 O( E5 Y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
# i* D; \+ v& K L Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; U+ _3 |# Y6 W! ~6 y0 f0 }+ F0 S 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 J3 p( W# s5 y! Z+ q; h 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( U; k! R, L: _ Food names:
. ?7 R$ |9 a$ }" R 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
N( o2 W/ @" x# ^! ~/ {- |4 H 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
6 _, P# F3 C: h! ?: j$ |( G2 j, \ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# q& ]) ? ?+ }$ H9 U$ p 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 \2 O; Y5 r' c; ?/ c; w$ m
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
: ]- V$ i }3 R) \9 {. V+ P 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( u9 S- \9 D/ ]; B8 ~
糖果盘 candy tray: 3 h {7 R l* t+ g
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 0 T$ y3 Y6 S5 r
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
! w% i- n$ M5 P+ J% |( T 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 7 N; X* m9 L6 N, y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 b" O7 A, k" ~- N+ a9 W% g
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 0 |" O4 v$ K9 p8 h# g! j
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 4 j9 h/ v7 s3 l1 w$ B
红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 M% z0 q. ]& \2 a0 N; `! J
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00