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Spring Festival Words 0 F2 A1 n" M* p, A6 k
Greeting Season: / h" ~% r) G) [; S/ ?# Z: W+ E
春节 The Spring Festival . ?9 T' t2 x, y/ C2 A2 d
农历 lunar calendar s; u F6 ` n+ O
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 0 j9 C; a4 \3 [+ h
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* k2 I7 P4 m& \) J" K* b( n7 l+ m 初一 the beginning of New Year
6 s+ P& V8 a6 t2 K# i2 X2 E5 J 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
2 K# w2 n5 j5 V5 b O! o& [& \: m9 N Customs: $ B, s3 \0 V* c( D, e" s
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . R4 V$ H' A- w) e4 @8 B
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
0 b% {; U. \- J$ N) M 春联 Spring Festival couplets % E1 | m0 y) t$ S
剪纸 paper-cuts # \9 w8 Z Q, H9 g9 t. C
年画 New Year paintings * Q! l' L) r9 n/ J9 ^+ u
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 D% X( k; w' i" d) U$ ~; ^
敬酒 propose a toast ) W% `0 X- p* `! m
灯笼 lantern: a portable light , R" Y' b* ?9 h; D2 u! [6 K- {# ?
烟花 fireworks # @/ n L/ v1 }0 R6 b
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
5 A2 s0 p$ M) \5 Y2 B 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 5 F& p1 h1 G3 k5 {" x. X. O$ Y
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) $ n+ x" Q) X/ K9 G
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
# i3 q F! N3 \% W9 q 戏曲 traditional opera
7 t- }; _* t/ X& s' M 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville / A3 A: C/ e k, ~
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns $ v) a2 }& j$ Z, Y( D
灯会 exhibit of lanterns Y/ ]* s0 h" v+ N1 k
守岁 staying-up
6 \) t1 B) _) a 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , H/ z( U! k- ]. W3 S
禁忌 taboo 5 Q @" c+ m& b& N$ ]( r
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune D$ K( h2 z4 [' X2 @
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
6 v" a; t' M) q7 i4 @# u U 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
4 I. j7 E9 ^( o; r1 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 $ O: E# l; O: p0 G5 Y
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' e0 b" Q( e8 n" s1 Y1 M, ^
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning $ ~2 ~7 u6 E* @: b. G3 L! k
Blessing:
6 l8 F% _6 m# z# J; n Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 S/ g$ t- d, j
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
1 p% G$ [8 n+ a3 W6 i' { Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 f0 {8 e D3 t, J3 ^& } O# L 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 i% f0 I% ?$ s& @
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( B B0 H( r( F' e0 }6 g Food names: ( s' P2 K7 Z* T
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
: X o+ F- E. f; k* e: ]2 j7 a 团圆饭 family reunion dinner , p0 }( @" u/ k( u2 w
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve / f' l( W, Q6 Y; j% q" p% z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli & O8 b/ N2 T4 b" f
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 z; O5 H: C+ p! q% w1 Y4 [ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ J9 R6 J! W# P% l" h9 i2 d 糖果盘 candy tray: 9 G& \( ~# e# y) g
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 8 d& U( h* W& G$ _- y" r5 v! K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
1 ^6 p8 ?) ?) N+ } 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / o3 n5 @/ q% S
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
8 V7 h- s1 P# t7 q 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , z- m; r' G" X- ?9 T+ Y5 B
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
7 m, N% m( w9 P2 \. f9 K7 e. i 红枣 red dates - prosperity 6 Y7 y5 D7 |% D* G- B( t" \8 F& e# `
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00