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Spring Festival Words . {1 e( s% U! ]4 [$ s2 [, t
Greeting Season:
3 E! Z* x9 h: B6 A# g 春节 The Spring Festival ) {* n B" L* c3 X7 S; r
农历 lunar calendar
& _9 \4 {' T- s6 p! H5 K 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
* H- H& ?' j6 ]& v* [" G3 d 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* C& h7 j" E$ ?' f& s. @) f' g 初一 the beginning of New Year 0 X5 a F, q" @: w7 o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 D5 }+ H$ ?9 v5 I+ G1 G: H) k
Customs:
3 ]4 j& `! m/ j0 w) B 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * E9 }& ^; I5 J! r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 M1 @7 @- `) j3 d6 k2 N
春联 Spring Festival couplets " d3 R' |, x. m, T3 X+ g9 p
剪纸 paper-cuts 6 F$ g- p. |" @* J9 D4 u9 l
年画 New Year paintings
- l7 c% ^5 z9 Y l& |% U 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 1 _. Y7 e# D& M
敬酒 propose a toast
- u, B- J# a3 l9 h# T6 Q6 ?' T 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* f* d$ h, }" x" Z; s) T0 p 烟花 fireworks 7 a- Z, L; r) {1 @
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
1 p0 u7 F, A; o3 @ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
, k/ y2 c: G1 ]7 \; F 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 ?8 n5 k j1 T: T+ N 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
- \1 Q' v- J8 b7 i1 Q# | 戏曲 traditional opera ( _+ p, K) Q( Y- l
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 w. k/ q' u9 c1 G( K 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 5 j) B2 x8 h, h5 F5 t
灯会 exhibit of lanterns % W8 i! ]! k2 d
守岁 staying-up
! t0 `" B% Z- T) l 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit * u0 B9 R! p0 z3 b/ ~9 W6 S
禁忌 taboo 4 F! b( B0 V8 }5 }5 z" ?
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 z6 I/ Y- N- X8 S, S M7 J% O2 u 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * c1 {5 P7 H" W
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 V. c, \8 H8 V2 R) x
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 8 G% {" [* d* I' k8 c, e
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year , P4 F+ @! k' `0 A
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
; j7 u c# m1 Z) O: {4 U Blessing:
/ G# W1 I3 M0 ~, p8 R Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 f+ i. D0 A- c2 _
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ! L1 c& O" q' a9 S1 G6 O: Q& e
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; J- a4 T2 c, c$ C! d+ u# R9 O 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 6 e& Z1 J' x+ q
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
4 Z, j3 _1 V. K& m: ]8 `5 M3 `& Y Food names:
# P. e; R! i+ E) Q& ^ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
- a0 n- C: q- z5 b+ N& y* c 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
T9 P$ l6 P# [ G 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ) ], r) e; N) |+ x- [; @9 G
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
0 o G. K8 Q1 ]6 j/ ~% } 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, {7 z1 T* f }& { 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding : a% t% `( }) G3 n
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ I- |% ?0 O4 h 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 x; e. u* ~9 }+ J- S
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health + I; n# f, n) ?* |
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity . e+ t Q! _$ @8 J; w2 u% J
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 D% D* Y- }3 L
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 5 ^" P1 d7 x: X3 ~: ]$ I
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ' a3 l& l/ t4 I( E* s( @2 N- \4 ^& q8 ?
红枣 red dates - prosperity _4 B, c8 c2 Z1 x* }, h
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00