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Spring Festival Words # {3 k1 l& o1 d- n
Greeting Season: : s/ }! o/ q6 s& Z) H" s' C
春节 The Spring Festival
: K; f* v( u. ?' a 农历 lunar calendar + f, F1 p! i: S" N$ ^5 J4 Z) o
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
9 t9 _, Z* l1 P5 m1 k 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 m8 Y( a: L G3 E& y2 d 初一 the beginning of New Year * M. q6 u3 M5 F
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
7 G: C. q1 G5 p# H( G U7 A5 e Customs:
; c# O% X7 ]0 S; O9 s2 ~ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * v) A( ^: e+ @, r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
. Z: A7 Q) q: f8 e/ c 春联 Spring Festival couplets / Q# e% G7 R% r
剪纸 paper-cuts
: a7 S+ [: k* \8 X$ _ 年画 New Year paintings
* E5 |9 u# d. q9 Y" D 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping $ y* z! ?0 e3 _4 ]7 n7 N5 K
敬酒 propose a toast
6 j B% B: X1 C, ]0 D* W7 Z 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , q# r2 M t) L$ e! |7 ~$ | ~
烟花 fireworks
# \* |& M/ S0 u0 H/ {) L 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 F6 k, }: w3 E1 O% L3 ` 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
/ R% t% J" Y1 J+ t- f; K' Y+ y/ | 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 5 X. [1 n; R) t4 K
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
/ d/ Z! g. P# ^; h 戏曲 traditional opera
3 i* A! T; k* l! C 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " {" m v# d2 O+ u9 D4 A5 M* E. i
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ A) I: g' V( ?0 p, {8 s( O8 V 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
9 x. q+ [, A) f7 X' n* W 守岁 staying-up
; R/ k. a/ d P: F t 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit * |: O1 K% E. R8 L) P/ H8 s. \
禁忌 taboo y% M9 ^# x9 ~$ b! R
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune v4 L k L7 d" K+ I( C5 B& D" {
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 4 S1 u8 X/ ]: `8 i# @- g$ H
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) ~8 Z5 ]: Y. j# \9 C
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 g$ r0 C. x4 g) H! Y
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year - k' J0 c" H, Q( S
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' y; H/ `) y. G: i& G |
Blessing:
! }' Z4 e/ v- F% u. l3 W Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 J! ^- R: R7 f; x; @, [
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace & m$ z/ F+ S9 i* t
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 4 u8 {; f( A+ h# l* d- w
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 9 h4 l7 C$ E/ z2 q* f) a7 x, D! F2 J
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
, V0 \' u% M0 q4 {8 _ Food names: 3 `& R0 V+ ~& n' J2 S; C4 u
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
: c0 M8 B1 _/ I9 g5 E7 t4 ^. E" R 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 6 W! f. U0 E/ E# O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 2 m0 z5 f8 c: L
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ) `4 \" K% r) }
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings # m' m2 b% }) }0 z
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding / m( @; q9 M+ W3 _1 H) y0 ^% }$ q0 b
糖果盘 candy tray: * h) b4 ]8 ]* @2 J. m% L( O
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ n# M8 u. w ^; s& Y5 {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 8 @4 H+ E9 }" ^
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
5 k# ~+ n( F* E- y4 C 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 `7 Z) }3 h/ a ] 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , ]( R' q7 g$ n6 n6 R" P/ N
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
8 O% @( b/ W& A* F5 p 红枣 red dates - prosperity : O" `5 \4 p9 j+ \" ~
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00