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Spring Festival Words
/ U! @0 o. |; P8 o: { Greeting Season: # L& t" k+ A" `" I8 V2 E! D* k
春节 The Spring Festival - \* `$ _0 k- i7 H% C2 m' ^
农历 lunar calendar 1 H$ H4 j& i1 \" {% \4 Z; D
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 1 a8 v& B$ u4 n0 C1 R3 v
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
g. L* v2 @ J1 A$ Z 初一 the beginning of New Year ( d1 c7 F4 H3 f) ^, U/ m7 y7 W, t
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' O* m4 A0 d( c0 B Customs:
+ D9 n. a; A! Q7 _- N: w# H 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * e5 O+ \( J. j5 q# N
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
% h% V* T- Z9 Y( c6 x9 X4 N4 N% i 春联 Spring Festival couplets
) H; U, E. J# M! g$ F/ Y5 _ 剪纸 paper-cuts ( y y2 e; x7 t. w, {
年画 New Year paintings 6 ^+ G0 K$ H, X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 @- v, }: {) h3 j( h- H& }3 e7 U
敬酒 propose a toast
" o* o) v3 ?5 [$ F4 B) e 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* c; V6 u( r( q5 ^* a 烟花 fireworks : \; }) Q( i* [& e* d# b
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ; `: @1 ]/ m# O1 [2 J
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' E5 S) j8 p j! D( j5 s
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
( g3 ?/ @1 t# G( D) P 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - M5 T- G6 J& g" w1 L% t; i
戏曲 traditional opera ; {: C" p, ]3 m" f& E* z9 ^
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! c7 A: Y: k9 O2 G# h5 m8 X! F, o 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* c; m! B9 S; |: _( F& B 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
9 r- @- `; Y" M7 A: s 守岁 staying-up ( Y& F) V1 E- |6 R& @2 N" b
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 7 }6 k& _/ ` Q6 g% @
禁忌 taboo
9 C4 Z* P! \( M! |+ s 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ( \& B- C% W. ~8 j* |
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # q( M1 M9 o! U; f) X+ {% q+ ~/ s
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift , h( T/ H' ?2 K
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 / ~3 k% p0 j1 C$ G8 Y
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
' V3 o. q- ?( r% s4 s7 q0 _ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning . s9 g/ i; E+ W+ I" S: x/ H3 i
Blessing: + Q$ b9 Y% d$ d5 z( ]
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
+ |, O* a1 ?7 h) h: M Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace B* |* k! c" n& r4 O
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
$ ^% w# g X. P% L- l( a+ B 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
5 I1 U6 I- K) O1 a6 b0 p2 A; Z 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 g% Q1 @0 t v2 V( Y9 w8 t) B
Food names: $ o- ^- U, Q4 M& K( |
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
2 W- S% M+ X* D/ m 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ) L, O2 R! O7 T. F
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve + S( L/ Q) T( ^% p
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
- Q2 X: \! Y# b, {! ~" z 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
! N& W5 t. D! y, p) b7 H 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
( B# O5 _% b( Z* f 糖果盘 candy tray:
3 {5 C, |. n4 u" m! P/ B" H( n 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ v& K6 O& A. L/ {1 \ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health " e1 M% G$ `6 S
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 6 X7 Q& D! Q8 H6 I" Z u
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 W& K1 i9 A' V
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) l3 ]: Q# E" ~% I' A$ I5 L
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 1 f# C0 M0 Q, G$ u# k5 C0 a! D m* i
红枣 red dates - prosperity
* W" R+ D H9 f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00