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Spring Festival Words . ]+ K- [8 H8 O1 u8 g$ u
Greeting Season:
7 d8 O8 m. p+ R5 o* E, y5 I 春节 The Spring Festival
1 X! S* U8 w, V9 ]6 @ 农历 lunar calendar ! h2 L! n* q" V4 u0 c4 L8 B
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
/ Z) G1 D4 L3 N! j 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 7 G" {9 \* y7 Z0 K1 c
初一 the beginning of New Year
+ N/ U. g0 q. [/ ^ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 4 {. w( s5 v" R
Customs: % x) ~$ Q& D- a) F( S. h: o
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ; J( {+ l$ Z2 f
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
. |) N. k/ C7 |& f! w0 r 春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 V) w% i) O# T2 a3 y" r B1 A
剪纸 paper-cuts
Z- P3 d, U. _9 c, |: t 年画 New Year paintings . Q' r5 ^4 W8 u. P3 B b
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 u/ X* g8 K3 o2 O9 `3 f, T 敬酒 propose a toast
2 I5 C# a1 [7 p; C, E 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , o% c6 S$ ]: G
烟花 fireworks
- y+ o- a5 L* K, ]$ N9 B 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! P+ G8 V6 }- ~6 r7 {; E; @0 _ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) / \0 @6 N' Z! `* r! p0 [
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 3 v0 Q2 \( I6 l. g; `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 R/ f9 ~8 K# R& a 戏曲 traditional opera
0 u- p5 A; y1 ^: q5 b4 ?5 r 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
$ O4 A- ], X8 ] Y$ J 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
9 k+ a1 N5 H4 w* m; j5 ?" ]- Y 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
$ [0 z! C% G" p8 P- I% G 守岁 staying-up
8 Y7 w' e$ b+ D2 T: _" u) n% L 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
8 @) z9 n6 ^5 J7 a% }$ H* \, t 禁忌 taboo - B6 l( I0 |9 ~* w. y9 M- Y. o
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 4 {# [2 s. R- j w# ]
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 2 `( D, O, y6 p5 \
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 0 X/ z7 P+ x; y5 j1 P: `8 B* g% N
Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth ' r, H3 U, J1 t- T
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year + g! z6 n. C; ^9 o
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 6 K- k. j. {) W6 x: @) g
Blessing:
3 N! \% o: R& r e/ ^$ ^$ c4 { Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity * o9 Y% r5 F) Z6 a4 \/ G' o
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! f- _! ~# R% m2 W Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
S, o8 C1 T9 }. \) u/ b 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
6 F) b) y4 ^- o/ {! D! ?4 a 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 r# s/ e- `/ M, Z3 }
Food names:
6 R8 x: x ~1 G( X5 r. s0 C 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
5 B( Q$ M, V$ w. e 团圆饭 family reunion dinner $ z: s6 K2 u6 p3 Z i: |
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ; C1 D9 A/ i) j' h6 Z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! h9 ^6 h2 d5 n) U8 d/ s 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
: d: R+ \$ A1 g6 ]/ T( D 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding # [" O, z; v* s# _* ^
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ Y8 q; H) ]/ U1 ]6 L) D. D 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
" D1 w: @, E- i$ Z1 ]1 P 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) V& j8 F5 G+ B; ]! r 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
* K% W) D1 g: _4 v# X3 B$ q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
8 ]" z0 I& ?! A5 O( r- t: e& \ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
0 R% J0 L( p2 J 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 5 E8 V8 V6 ]" B1 k7 w
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 ?- K7 m% n" D' o* _: ]8 N( o! H
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00