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Spring Festival Words $ P& a& B9 S3 U' d" ]# p1 |, p
Greeting Season: 1 d* ^% Y/ v h* ?4 D8 I
春节 The Spring Festival 9 g( g1 u6 U. [5 S% H3 J' z
农历 lunar calendar . K' g3 v `( s. m* c3 u
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
) m* k- P4 V0 _8 q2 V# c J 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
: s& q# ~8 u8 G- K0 R* O; b8 ~ 初一 the beginning of New Year
W& u# |% ^1 a& R9 M0 s$ q! a 元宵节 The Lantern Festival : h k" b& w$ [( ]. d
Customs: 7 [- A* E0 C/ c; X5 x% z* F6 W
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
+ b4 \/ y- R' M& ^! d. _ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
$ m! ~/ Y: w& [/ p( I, m* W 春联 Spring Festival couplets : ^; [: R/ [" r, V6 J% T( t
剪纸 paper-cuts " s) E& \3 y$ l! \
年画 New Year paintings
, u3 O: V! W2 N5 F 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ! M) Q% ^+ g6 `$ r9 y1 D2 ?
敬酒 propose a toast * h; ~7 i- p( |
灯笼 lantern: a portable light + G7 ^: ?! ?& x6 c' Z
烟花 fireworks
; j$ ]& P( ~2 N1 Q7 t 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ P. o2 {6 T# n, K$ E g
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
( p3 }, }% ]* P1 m! n 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# x. t' P8 M6 T/ E3 O2 p9 z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 8 K' Y9 H* X' c+ C( V
戏曲 traditional opera 9 Y0 |+ |$ D+ a
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ]+ ~5 t1 j ?' q
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns " t/ w) j1 s* y+ G w2 Y
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
* m# E) V+ W6 s) i* y3 ` 守岁 staying-up 3 M- K5 }8 D% H& ?3 \+ H0 P
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# u. b: B8 {) d! r) J/ p, G 禁忌 taboo
- } O: E7 `1 B* H 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * Q5 a1 `6 ^6 _2 d6 Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
6 t( h7 @" @( o+ [3 ` 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: ~4 C! |8 B$ o" v4 d4 l, _. b 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 1 ^0 l/ t# x! y1 C. V
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ A4 G& G5 K: [/ r9 n" j 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning # P* W6 l, l; }
Blessing: r8 o( d! R4 @
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
$ q! L7 k. t$ R/ o' e2 O Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 5 [3 ^4 N' Z% }" \
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
* ]2 w3 z: T# j% l |$ u; I/ C 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 |: b( x3 t& Q7 V5 C
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
' |# E& X5 m" x' e" D. w( I Food names:
4 r% f+ l3 }+ t7 @! V9 F 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& l: p9 p: j! K" t) I3 j% m" B 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ' m3 Q2 ]* Q3 G* R
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve . L& ?7 E" W( N
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 i0 j- V! o3 x+ T6 v& D
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) q+ Y( w/ |. k6 s8 W 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
: ]- b6 h$ q; W6 H6 T9 ~3 F/ R5 t- o 糖果盘 candy tray:
2 Z. N" Y9 ?5 ^1 B 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
3 b4 d. U2 `2 E9 |! I/ [ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
4 |7 d5 r. r0 Z 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 0 [- l9 x0 I% X* I+ T3 ]6 t- O
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 V6 u$ X) P' k: }% x5 s
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 2 y |7 l; [8 d/ F, L# J& o# V
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: F( F9 _, A/ a: \" A 红枣 red dates - prosperity & `* `' P3 g- G6 M0 {/ ?
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00