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Spring Festival Words - e( Q a$ z! p9 E* b
Greeting Season: 3 f$ b5 z, _9 v9 z
春节 The Spring Festival ) X6 @3 F; g) q9 {' a3 K0 A( u; e
农历 lunar calendar X0 x& O6 N( h) ^0 `( g! d
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - ^9 o+ A) y; K8 Z# t* J2 U7 ?
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , {: r/ T: q5 E$ h
初一 the beginning of New Year
2 v0 @1 Q. C0 L* E: X |' K1 c 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
# ]5 z8 B# }/ b4 z; E8 K( | Customs: $ [4 ?, O# G; m; e
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
: E( g( k F- `( A 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 8 v; r( H% j$ c' G0 h% H
春联 Spring Festival couplets 9 r" ~0 D! I7 V c7 O1 F1 ^
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 D! \! p* c# U6 ?+ P0 Y# b) C 年画 New Year paintings % ^ @* C% u0 P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping , e8 f* L" i+ I/ ?5 j3 X8 e; a- s; R
敬酒 propose a toast 8 D, |6 F9 z: p7 u7 Y7 v
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. g$ |4 D1 x* W$ O' U) h 烟花 fireworks
% ]1 p0 l5 x/ v+ N- t) v( M% E 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ; y3 E' U$ _& \8 F) L$ n
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 M7 L$ ], H' o2 b
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * C. S/ n# h. d+ Y! c( i2 d
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # o4 o' N4 c, W1 V0 g
戏曲 traditional opera 2 X9 `% X X0 q' g. `
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 k) b* R$ B& t b1 \2 ? j 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ! H; ?: B+ p: A' u; p) f
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
; W, i. U6 V! u) i8 w) o 守岁 staying-up
5 r$ ^- p. V* G x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & {8 |6 N! }$ w6 k' d, M9 n# i4 n
禁忌 taboo
6 y* b: w, c, t. z0 Z [$ q 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
0 q- ~! {0 A( l0 G, T! F9 B: e 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 8 S: \1 l7 e0 X+ o7 J
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift " b# Y" g0 Z. a# e V9 D4 c" a& H
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 V7 N0 ]1 Z- q' V. a
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' o' ?" b" L# P# U; q9 H
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 p) ?- |+ ?; f, s" r
Blessing: 4 d3 ~; z# B7 L4 w6 B
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity h' b6 i/ ?) B2 A4 H
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
2 P# M; M, h7 Z" F/ Z Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go $ C0 l6 d; u6 K
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* j- H( X8 T5 h' c' N# {9 ?* o 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: C* \- r. U( T8 w9 f( ]+ o0 e Food names:
5 H4 z. [; C% L: ^- W7 K% H 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake G6 ?% c- f6 h9 ~- c! ]
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 y- Y3 ?3 u2 D# }
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 9 E3 z( t9 a4 l3 x
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
" G4 f% D& T( k- R9 Z. ] 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 S' b5 {( F9 ]1 o
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ ]4 [9 o! j" D' d3 q 糖果盘 candy tray: , Q) H* k/ ]. Q: e& }. Q" I
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 Y) f+ v# V! |( h) [; {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ( c3 j: N ?" `
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
$ a7 Y% ~# { W+ X5 M j! U$ A 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 1 X/ q# n; D% \7 w. h
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
% F3 [5 q& b8 |+ y7 T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship / X- f1 Z0 c" S+ r# X
红枣 red dates - prosperity
1 e& c" _- i8 h) Z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00