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Spring Festival Words ! t8 s5 L5 v L
Greeting Season:
( ^: v- U6 X4 y# c8 Y2 w# z 春节 The Spring Festival # [" _$ m8 h* `7 ]/ W2 c
农历 lunar calendar
9 k, S& P1 [5 `5 M/ a" h2 B 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ) b3 ]1 i4 n2 j! ~
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year " Z5 f9 f/ F+ l2 U. o3 m- {
初一 the beginning of New Year 4 V, [' G7 |5 A( N3 Y4 |* h- h2 x4 n
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ S V9 v* @4 [ Customs: 9 L9 x' Q( H' x/ @: o
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival - I: R. ^0 @7 l1 Q
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 5 S; h4 k' a; G5 q" g
春联 Spring Festival couplets " B% o3 T, P# ]* ]# G0 G
剪纸 paper-cuts
- \0 [& H2 |" ~: Z; u! X+ \$ Z2 _ 年画 New Year paintings 4 N: {. A! U. C+ M3 E! X
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 U0 v2 g5 o1 u4 A% H
敬酒 propose a toast : I. ?: `/ x: n ]2 D, T }* k
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
! u, q7 C7 p. L7 ^ 烟花 fireworks
4 X- I0 `2 j5 K 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
6 u& C! T+ T2 v1 @* A 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) % J( v, I: c1 p6 {- I* I
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) " r. M- X% _' O5 n
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 7 m" h/ o) ~. A% S2 s* \
戏曲 traditional opera 0 ]. a# w3 y) m% O& P! E) [4 v
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
# u+ U( T/ s$ {$ W0 n 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + }* l- R8 I& h* x8 X& R* A
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 I5 F7 ~$ @5 l- v
守岁 staying-up ' U1 h# ~5 J' I, k
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 9 d4 n/ q0 C3 |/ T
禁忌 taboo 3 z" ~2 Q2 y7 ~+ o
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- b* n# P- j2 f- K6 D 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
1 l5 O) H% L" B) I& f( o( U/ ? 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) [" H8 ~3 Q7 E) L, M 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
, G1 y, p& C& ^. n' l! K7 m 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year - f- G6 h$ _* y
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( n! d* E: ?& F- B6 X
Blessing: 3 C5 [; x$ q' L: J
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity : `5 ]+ j9 S( E8 ?
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace , O' B) ]1 H) b$ g) D8 Q
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 8 X2 d- `$ o. v: H
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
" |2 k* X+ ^! |7 ]. }* X 事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , r) j; {2 ?- ]: I
Food names: $ I8 ~0 E$ {! l0 M8 {9 }$ m
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 0 V8 @8 l1 `4 Y d8 ?
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
& z! z' B* q+ a& v; g 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
$ G* R% Q+ w+ M8 B" R1 w 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
, a5 w7 F, d+ z: p 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
0 S( W$ t6 Q3 q' t, o 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ U3 P# D/ }8 f7 j1 }& P$ p7 H- U
糖果盘 candy tray: * o W7 d. P0 j" ^1 b. k
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 4 h5 _& ]& e8 _+ E
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health $ I1 f. ]0 r- L/ [! d9 f, g4 L
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity " Q5 c! r! k! U
金桔 cumquat - prosperity ; { I, O) z7 K7 m; z7 A# T
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
; u. V: Q. y O; m9 C6 A' D0 Y+ N 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: Z) k* H, v' s. {! X/ X 红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 K3 h# n! o V1 t+ a 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |