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Spring Festival Words
* s- O; u e7 y8 Z$ u1 V Greeting Season: 3 h/ s% S& H( B) R' h
春节 The Spring Festival . C/ \2 K3 D& `, f) X9 S
农历 lunar calendar . K1 q& {" @2 W, C: U" \9 H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
, j1 h" H; a) M( N w) h9 Q 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
1 m$ v9 H1 d. p1 N 初一 the beginning of New Year 2 B; Q) u. Q# o" Q3 i/ n5 I
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
; a9 O# i% A; c+ n Customs:
1 E' Z! w, _; l5 I" s1 t6 \ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & a* P0 R3 }8 F' @% `) k9 U
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# L, {- P" G9 u! s' }. E. k 春联 Spring Festival couplets * C7 p" b [0 i; s
剪纸 paper-cuts
/ T- ]6 L9 z0 g2 i( y 年画 New Year paintings
+ t% @9 t6 k, k* _ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) H. L3 }. r( ?) v/ t3 d
敬酒 propose a toast # d4 a6 s' ]% }8 g4 X$ g* V* J
灯笼 lantern: a portable light - @+ g% T& ?9 z# b# s# {
烟花 fireworks 2 v- J6 a+ S8 A* I
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 9 ?' w6 w. D7 |/ t
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) : {0 l9 w7 p _( U9 b3 Q
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * D1 Z+ E |: R4 o
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & `6 w6 p. R8 i3 l
戏曲 traditional opera
4 C; a, s5 ]. E9 f5 Z9 @6 F- z) @) W 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 j/ Y5 L/ P$ P1 V 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* T0 L" d4 ^. q, p F3 r 灯会 exhibit of lanterns & U& N0 _% }. ?
守岁 staying-up
+ W. ^7 P/ V; X0 Y" `6 V 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
3 y7 P, q* x4 N8 }/ O' H# \" S 禁忌 taboo 5 {0 A, C6 T" p; u. i) a4 W/ X# b
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ( L8 i: J) m/ `. W* F1 K1 |
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors # e2 ]6 `# M* j
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( Y) i- C7 c9 A% Y& T q3 i% Z 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 # o* r8 ?( @+ \3 f
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
- O4 L8 A5 V1 ?, E8 W( B 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 9 I2 n3 S( o Y
Blessing: 3 \" T0 k$ X% j" e9 D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 y5 F% r A. S h; c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
4 _. ^, u( R' a$ ~) @* b; i( ] Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 D# g- @7 R$ r0 k( E7 | 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! " I7 L+ K4 j& s7 w. W- x& [5 U
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 3 L1 w' M1 }* _
Food names: 9 z: r2 e2 |+ U* w/ W) W6 n
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ! e. ~' J; Y. i& z$ }1 {' `* o
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! w* U, ~5 R! G- f: P
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; U4 N$ h$ g9 t V: G9 y
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 T3 W! J' ~1 @; e: {7 M+ C
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings + t. }' @ R8 H0 D) ?
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding # N/ e" M! R. n2 }; ]
糖果盘 candy tray: 7 \' [- B) F" G6 Y: u- e t
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 M: m: M1 y6 \7 C+ |) @ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& N1 e4 w3 ~) M6 ?) ]5 e9 C 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! Q5 b$ z% K5 h- q) m' O
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
) h: U& W' E1 Z# ~& L2 i6 ? 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
' `& X+ M8 K; N- A# y 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 1 u: a, d/ l( Q$ {8 R0 }+ P2 z) Z
红枣 red dates - prosperity $ g, M( R, b. R" P0 [+ g) W$ R5 }
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00