Spring Festival Words
v/ C9 ~' q' K4 {' w Greeting Season:
9 }" {7 O% D H) b 春节 The Spring Festival
" Z( }- O) E Z3 F! E* F; S 农历 lunar calendar
" D7 J' H x) ^4 ` 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
! x9 m' X% ?% b- D) r1 ]- w 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
" [6 m7 ~% K8 |4 t2 ~; ^7 N 初一 the beginning of New Year 2 p6 b; A6 ? P
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ; Q8 C' N2 v4 o9 t! O
Customs: 0 c4 L9 t' y; ~: }
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
1 \8 f; a' z) f2 |: u 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
; a! X1 k. [) A% B1 Y 春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 E5 r1 u0 s. e( c* a/ q# D" {
剪纸 paper-cuts
" L/ N8 g2 Z4 j8 Z; Y 年画 New Year paintings 3 W( J" C; X4 C* k" m8 i
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ' T3 S# v- d8 H) f& o
敬酒 propose a toast / l, @) k0 F v) d0 p& y2 w
灯笼 lantern: a portable light " D% n8 R( y3 o
烟花 fireworks
5 [$ Y4 x/ k' k& ~% N0 ~, c8 b 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' \5 ^4 }8 S% p 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
# ~& `5 H) h1 t' e% z# R& a4 q 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : z8 q" ]! b2 _4 K" M! s
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ; o' L- h5 Y5 t- o( l/ Z
戏曲 traditional opera 0 r/ u' L$ l2 w8 ~! k+ ]% C8 t0 v+ W. n1 U
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 c# ?& j3 g/ a. z 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns # e4 l" f& G }& z4 X4 ~
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 5 N1 a1 q3 z3 h) l# U* K+ a
守岁 staying-up , O+ ]/ {. v5 Y9 T ]7 F
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
" V) G9 {7 ^# M2 Y5 D. ^# j; o 禁忌 taboo # u$ _: d* C( I. G
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 W* e% O) O/ A! x$ e
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors , B/ x7 J; ^! {' i- E z( l5 W
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
4 E0 o, f8 I3 ~+ \5 E 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
* [' z9 f8 U8 U4 X, p1 N 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ W8 t& k. R6 B% e 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
* C3 Z4 `; f/ N) u5 R7 ]3 M Blessing: % r3 T- K2 Q0 q% O) a( r- y
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
. p3 S4 |8 \4 k n. f Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace $ a' k# O- R& z3 n5 ?
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 g1 B4 a' V$ R3 i' i
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( A* J6 q5 r q8 l3 z
事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! * H% j( z# g/ l" q" y/ t
Food names:
; h) ~7 H$ H' E 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
1 h5 ~& C% ^8 M: A5 s 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ( r. h8 m. V" P: w7 o ?
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: x5 N$ i8 L% l 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / H, x+ M+ F5 ?) S0 j* z! n
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings b4 }! N" ?" _5 x9 z( v
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding + \: k [5 Y* j8 T, {
糖果盘 candy tray:
0 V# b/ W: o* C5 Z1 ?1 v- Y# v 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
' N! Z1 E0 t) v2 g& F+ @8 r& o! } 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
- t! U8 s& l% \- ~ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
" B+ o$ @" j# ^" z 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
& M. T: H# k1 }4 c$ ^& z2 u 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ! |! u3 \2 U$ \ ]. P
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 2 N1 a: Y7 Q$ {' N% U
红枣 red dates - prosperity 6 p" \0 ?8 @- m# R j4 e6 R" `
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet |