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Spring Festival Words
- e* \. [$ e( ]4 |, Y Greeting Season: 3 \. i s0 W2 o* n) b
春节 The Spring Festival ( s6 j; P* L1 i
农历 lunar calendar ; [' {. h2 s7 `
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
+ V8 N3 a# P1 ` 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
j5 F0 O/ a6 _/ b/ f 初一 the beginning of New Year
6 S" b% d0 Q; T2 V 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
; Z5 ^7 p/ b: @4 Q4 ] Customs:
) w/ A8 W8 m8 h9 j' a. m: Z 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
0 N# _) ~" i% R) q* T4 V7 Z5 P6 X, z 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : U r- k2 Z" i9 p
春联 Spring Festival couplets j# _7 }$ Q% w# n4 J1 G) f M
剪纸 paper-cuts ; U$ O0 P. ^. d' T
年画 New Year paintings , F9 o( `; ^* U9 d% ]
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ) d6 t- J) D2 T* @! A6 x
敬酒 propose a toast . \+ P, c. R) A# H/ J# s& J
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
1 @4 I) h' h1 F0 Y 烟花 fireworks
) a9 T' }: \" j6 t3 C 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) / \* _" Q( h' ]; Y9 K* V
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 5 w! e1 S) O) ]; i$ u; W( `) {
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) - b6 `8 j- ^: ~9 d
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ) b7 e) i1 k" g, f4 |5 f
戏曲 traditional opera , J" |$ G, M7 k I* q; N3 F1 W* u
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 d2 W! g; m' W7 D0 p
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns - M+ ?. ]: s2 [1 n8 u/ W
灯会 exhibit of lanterns % P+ i" h2 q; }
守岁 staying-up $ Z- l: K. w5 K* {9 P! Q/ w
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 B/ R% t6 s2 [: s% j1 D. K. E' o 禁忌 taboo # o3 d7 J3 T+ O3 Z- D4 p) {
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & E/ V5 }, I, M% p2 }
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & M( Z( c2 k$ s9 k2 X4 a
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 7 g( F: @7 z! O" z- {7 T
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
: r2 ~' A) z2 P8 \. o 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year " t5 v( n$ N% b
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( Q* X; h8 \; {# ]( c8 A9 \ Blessing:
) Q) ~. Y4 g8 _6 A7 R* z- b+ } Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 [' J! I2 i- o/ x4 I5 h& P" P5 Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( A7 S V+ {0 e+ R+ ^
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go * f. B3 h* j1 H+ }0 b( p* B! ~
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! % G) K5 N f3 q0 i7 t1 z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( G) |+ d* [: j9 P* O( D5 W Food names:
q& A. T8 O2 l2 v; b) G: Z V 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 9 |$ I P& e2 @! W
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! |; g& p2 z3 X; k2 m! }# T
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
: ~" n" S1 X! h8 }4 \6 Y 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) L b8 h1 z& Y1 @ c5 _4 G 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
n, Z; c# `9 `5 s2 r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 1 P1 z% I5 A( D( z7 r4 i
糖果盘 candy tray:
! @) ~7 B# K0 y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
$ u' L9 G0 }0 X+ U4 e9 j# D: v 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) R9 {8 G) o: b 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * d* e" B; S$ M' ]
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. K! W( C8 x9 X0 r# ~ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
/ l$ Z& l4 D' ]6 O# C 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
+ w: ]$ F- P# x, G 红枣 red dates - prosperity 8 _/ v9 T4 u" l8 Z8 c2 |# K
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00