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Spring Festival Words
5 F$ I; f; |2 N, r) F* m Greeting Season:
. `- Y( x0 E* B; R' j8 { 春节 The Spring Festival
( n* c, `, D1 f9 u9 ^ 农历 lunar calendar 6 N; Z j% }& t% G' W9 T. _* z5 M$ o
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar . F$ {2 r" A# g' _ A2 f% P
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year # q! _6 [: j+ P
初一 the beginning of New Year
$ h0 F: y! `8 U; U1 U 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ' ~+ b/ `- \/ T
Customs: % y+ _" w7 q" y& m' d
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- ^/ m' G) ^4 \ n) G, g& E 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ! I2 B/ F9 L6 I; e( X' ]: A9 k
春联 Spring Festival couplets
$ U3 c1 G: W$ N+ [ 剪纸 paper-cuts
5 G% u1 _. Y* m9 c! U3 E8 q 年画 New Year paintings
5 `- t5 R8 m W! ^7 L# h+ d7 Y/ m 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
9 { X6 b' z1 Y; s. \3 G& p' b 敬酒 propose a toast 6 q; f* ^# b5 r
灯笼 lantern: a portable light - c7 D, x8 T7 ]
烟花 fireworks ! B9 @, J" T' J- w
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
. w; ]% w+ r( j3 E3 _# c% U 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) " {; | W b9 k) h
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: \2 X5 h" l, o6 D3 e 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
3 o1 ]( j" V8 J. z! \0 S" b. f 戏曲 traditional opera
4 A4 o) \* b7 S9 K$ J- x9 o; D/ U 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
9 C; G) i' {4 F' g! d% { 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 T7 F S, _- Q( U, K- _2 N! ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 8 P; w& b% g' V' P& t6 Y. U8 g* {
守岁 staying-up
5 |$ R8 @" \& l% y) L4 j/ P4 ?, _ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
" S4 Y; w/ i# `/ g 禁忌 taboo ) k7 ~& [" L7 S
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
1 h+ n4 L: W. F4 R8 U 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 x L. H/ V$ f0 H5 g
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
# l: r j5 n' F8 { 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 _: u, W$ p& F" J$ R
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( r1 ~$ S6 [! Q7 _5 L
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
. z; m: e8 v% K! f( S Blessing: U+ n5 C! k- I1 E5 ?3 s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity / x7 [+ @. Q1 W8 o$ w% h Y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 f- i( B- V( B6 Q5 V+ \, V: A. W Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 F# t# f+ m' j1 N3 ^
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, c) z+ C/ B4 g( Z 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ( t1 z% f3 a+ O8 H" H
Food names:
6 V: _' {/ o' ^; G0 r 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake # m0 ^- r6 `4 C% e
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 6 A N" k" @5 H4 Z: Z" b5 _
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve - H# w% C; H( F5 a/ M& T5 ]
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
6 g. ~7 [6 m: c6 V/ Z# b2 g, ^ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings " ?( x$ g- s5 m
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
8 o2 S& A* I2 m 糖果盘 candy tray:
! ~* G! ?8 D: n" b 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 8 b0 l; r4 f. M5 `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. J& x1 O2 B a B: |- _ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
$ E+ X1 z% V$ i! p! C 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ T9 u) b* ~( ^6 }5 g2 c) M7 h 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 2 k2 s; H$ v" H) S5 `. H3 H
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
( r/ y) `3 s' _& q: B3 Z0 F 红枣 red dates - prosperity * \9 o. A2 E! o
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00