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Spring Festival Words 9 H: t' D& G+ @ \
Greeting Season: # J) g0 W3 o0 D% m, e" O
春节 The Spring Festival
6 `) X$ ~# N. b7 Q& _% s 农历 lunar calendar
3 p$ B, d" R" W6 z7 g, Q8 q 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
# S( k5 B0 ^7 o! f, o9 q# S: Q 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . ~( y# V, {# f0 \5 d/ X
初一 the beginning of New Year
3 ]8 O- g& c+ }# y) N" V r 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 8 O/ z- Y6 T/ C* R1 z+ v: C
Customs:
: @1 R5 ]( W* p! ^( F$ t 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival , t+ Z0 I" v+ E- o8 U
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
" Z3 B" n2 n0 @ 春联 Spring Festival couplets & a: @+ d5 `0 O6 ?2 l" @
剪纸 paper-cuts ; T. R( M8 ]% ~' O
年画 New Year paintings
0 r% I+ \3 x- f% l0 `1 D$ x2 G 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 |# I1 q5 w. D# S* s6 }
敬酒 propose a toast
6 p1 W" a% u6 S* H. u- i3 g 灯笼 lantern: a portable light . g8 ]1 F5 N- g: Q9 I
烟花 fireworks
) A$ L$ A4 L6 \. A) L3 G 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 6 w6 H! d& Y. t8 o9 W: m
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) + W- [- k. D0 Z! h$ H
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 9 \7 p* Q6 F+ W* d. m
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
6 |5 R1 U3 D( B2 ` e% m 戏曲 traditional opera 2 n9 B7 p/ z# w% E9 Q) r& {7 \
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! N) m4 b4 U i# t$ o6 N7 n; r" B 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 a9 a, g1 J' Q: z 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
. U7 c6 @* R- P 守岁 staying-up ) n/ S# g+ Z9 g) `
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 8 }2 I! r# r8 C
禁忌 taboo
! j3 `& e6 L$ A- A 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ \: z3 W# G a x5 w 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 9 ?" P0 |% J# \( S% F
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
; o5 g, ~2 r5 O6 @/ @ 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 2 ~* e+ u' i( b! _% O1 S* V5 f# l
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 4 S9 F8 f z# X/ h
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: B% b$ t5 Y {# _ Blessing:
/ F( W2 ~9 n- m( S' F% K$ T( g' e Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 7 R3 h+ R; @+ W& \& n
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- G, u' ^5 ?. `4 w Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 `. W3 `1 t4 ~+ T! h 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 3 M" i' u D2 W y' _$ M" |/ u1 O$ r
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 0 t7 w" Y! e* L6 ^
Food names:
4 p _1 G2 }8 t7 E8 C8 S1 y$ L 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
/ I& z4 q$ P5 m, A6 z! x' L8 b0 r' } 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
5 i1 |) H6 v" p0 {8 u4 ^; W1 T 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ( |8 W9 c; n3 ?2 ]
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ! q* R! M7 l+ _( i
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
. c; \$ Y# K9 g4 a% @+ {4 j 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
; J6 `. L9 c. n# t 糖果盘 candy tray: 8 ~- z2 {- n1 C
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
* W+ |/ \5 M$ c0 z. L/ A 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. `- ]# V: i! k0 y4 Y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) p) z4 R/ A* z, t( f3 q" t
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
: g+ k' a& ]6 X9 X 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
( V5 m! _: o# o& _% H* G5 {' e 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 4 |6 K6 h5 w+ v! a
红枣 red dates - prosperity $ Y. ]7 F7 Q6 o1 d
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00