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Spring Festival Words % y. K" y1 q. R5 h8 s
Greeting Season: . |9 G" `4 {" s5 p" g
春节 The Spring Festival - \* o6 B6 }1 F3 R0 m) C+ [
农历 lunar calendar ! @' [% c7 a% U0 a# T# g
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
2 e" l9 g' Q2 l8 t; k1 K6 I7 t 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year - j/ x# u. Z: m, n C# @6 ]
初一 the beginning of New Year 4 K7 F3 S0 r- Y2 z2 W5 W- @
元宵节 The Lantern Festival + r4 h9 j4 J- Q& \3 U% s, z3 \& ?
Customs: . S, ^) ^; V" z7 ^
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 O8 q8 S# K f; ~% o( O
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
0 V" e, q$ H, y 春联 Spring Festival couplets 1 O s0 e( H' t+ P
剪纸 paper-cuts
4 W" u8 y5 I. H( C 年画 New Year paintings 0 @, ^8 K- u3 w) O ~ K) `' y& {1 _
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
/ ^. h3 ~' o! @$ X 敬酒 propose a toast
( a; w9 U+ d6 U1 Q, C7 M4 D" Z6 t 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
6 k( R. \3 g# e9 Q 烟花 fireworks - b% n, H0 [, s9 i, w
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ f1 X7 g4 I6 i. R: }1 e) b4 M/ c 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( K1 Z2 t( G2 V0 p; z2 U
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 ^) w; j& A+ E0 t$ \8 O8 h. n 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) : U5 K2 Y: T: f1 ?# G+ R ^" ?
戏曲 traditional opera 6 F9 ]" a8 e/ R& Y9 N( o
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! w* y4 X3 A4 Q2 ^ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
" Q' F* b) F- U0 _4 \ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 r0 z) l. `, U* @! _; o 守岁 staying-up % l& x+ Q& k, A
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! R% g% o& D( v- Q- O8 p8 r/ W3 f 禁忌 taboo
( J, G: M& i# k7 V% ?! z 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
3 W0 |2 u" B' L% e+ g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 i h. O+ |, H" E( X2 X 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
2 \8 L' `# D2 X" H' p1 A 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
# Q: `6 B" S$ G$ x, R' l8 O4 @ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
) g% L- a/ a+ H- `) Y 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : M6 z% p$ G! y$ ]0 P
Blessing: 7 P6 ?! s+ _) F4 _1 L
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 8 q8 C& F. I; O+ q+ j5 {3 g! ~& H
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
M) M) a' {, S& C Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 i v& l* ]/ I6 N1 O, y+ d 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! / l [7 P) ]: L/ M
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 6 l) E3 u5 g3 g$ C! [( S
Food names:
# B* U$ ^0 h `6 q! Q y 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 6 b, x" Y$ H- ~5 [8 H- L, `" Z `) N+ h
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
g( S+ F) L2 l0 T+ J8 [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * ~ ?# a" T/ ~* U+ z
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! m# i( m* k& P8 k g# p. J 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
: c. K$ V* t' B( C/ e* r 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( ^" \- M7 `& s+ g& i# X; O" ?
糖果盘 candy tray:
' h/ K" L* a: r1 e- b; W7 x 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * z3 G& H9 e( \9 E" ^8 w" ] H
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ t/ n4 U- u: t6 L 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
! C5 }$ H B0 R0 k5 _ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity $ h) K m& ?# R
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
2 l" j6 d1 |" E0 \: W 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
* T4 q9 D. u! R8 ] 红枣 red dates - prosperity
7 d, y" O& p! R% E 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
