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Spring Festival Words - V6 q1 s5 R; z( R/ g& [
Greeting Season: * m7 x) A- ^7 c9 M5 r
春节 The Spring Festival
* c% t. {! u4 M7 ` 农历 lunar calendar 0 t/ d+ e: \% \5 g' B' U+ b- x
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ E- |1 X7 h- ~ V" \) [+ s- M 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year / H& U! [' O ]
初一 the beginning of New Year - x S& U h( ~1 ~# N
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
* e& _0 V: _7 J4 o0 R8 p, H( n# A3 N Customs: 7 ]5 ~. r( D P
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 5 ?' S0 i: T8 `4 T2 l5 z# n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
r6 {. t" j- l8 z 春联 Spring Festival couplets
, F8 R! ^/ q+ [- h: A 剪纸 paper-cuts
, M( x" M8 p4 G* n' ?# o 年画 New Year paintings
3 e( i. z& \: P0 |. q$ j. M 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ! [, l6 A8 E" ~+ \; F. u
敬酒 propose a toast
7 ^# p- N! k( @- U; l5 W3 K 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , B& g/ g5 K/ |* Z
烟花 fireworks - j* J \3 \2 Z% O
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) $ y# p% M0 C# ?0 l
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( ?: Z7 D, w; Z% u
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 `0 o3 T: O) a! r! x
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( U. F/ f& u0 Z1 |; J) M 戏曲 traditional opera
Y4 h, |8 Z% w) H ]5 f2 K8 w 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
% G0 p7 E: r. m1 b* c1 T; \ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 7 A( g# h# M5 X% Z3 }7 d. t
灯会 exhibit of lanterns % ]; U) q9 U8 m( s
守岁 staying-up
9 z) d1 e0 g* L8 b 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 T( h4 L s- I" A2 D
禁忌 taboo 3 t; K& ?! y* p @3 _7 c d
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 q9 d& y8 `) w: [) I
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
4 p6 \4 Q7 z/ W4 ^ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
7 P! A9 ^3 j/ d$ Z, X k$ A% w" _ 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
" I0 V. r8 Q/ [9 N! t" N/ `; Y 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
3 _# H, k) u- ]9 V- [6 s- y& K1 Q1 E 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 8 ^" k, x% q: k# p) G
Blessing: + e$ l4 Y6 K3 o
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( G$ {0 T' }1 s Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 |' _# f5 s7 a2 f* K Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
3 V' `+ W& e: G1 i0 i 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 r+ O; L4 D6 E* t, b/ Q& x3 [7 m
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
Z; e0 a9 e' g. k0 [+ J: ^ Food names:
* U/ t# F {6 C8 F. `2 D 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 ~1 k& P7 O. n9 R( Z! |7 o" } 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ) J# ]0 A) K9 \
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ _9 K; y' t+ s6 T/ j2 n 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) ?2 P% ~, ~/ D6 v, z- h! a
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 ~1 T2 i% c+ s8 \- ?5 G+ y+ k( v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
! J% `3 L$ Z& c 糖果盘 candy tray: i! T8 N3 \9 M. R( t& c, p
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 6 O' \% I% r0 ?. k% {3 g8 |; [
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health - o! a" ?( V( {) Q) t
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
* P; s; n* K3 C- [ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( `; Q9 D: ^" R" l3 @ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
/ |- @& O! W0 \1 |( H# x 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
5 L) R( |, u1 W. k9 H( v. d g# x 红枣 red dates - prosperity . t2 V' _$ O! p' ?
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00