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Spring Festival Words 4 b. K; r+ g* u/ e" g; Y
Greeting Season: . [3 n0 s+ k% {" \+ M
春节 The Spring Festival & i. @& h% e2 ], z5 X( Y
农历 lunar calendar
4 z1 L0 w% M7 M3 K# a& ^ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + M9 E e: s3 D1 ^% A d( r7 e
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year & K' f% L1 N# ?% J" E
初一 the beginning of New Year + F- ~7 I8 ^( P2 N! q8 q
元宵节 The Lantern Festival * \. N, N4 f b9 }# e( L& M0 B' {
Customs:
! T: `1 b/ I# w7 X' h) @ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ! c3 _; o1 n: z. H. o8 y/ d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' a" V+ _3 f9 W2 ^
春联 Spring Festival couplets
0 ^" V+ s3 [% c& S 剪纸 paper-cuts - z" `5 W7 d% t' U/ K7 t1 _( x: O
年画 New Year paintings 4 ]) n3 f4 ~% x$ g- D2 B) J
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( G9 f* e* v" q 敬酒 propose a toast
) x( D' Y: k9 M% B, h9 b8 d6 S 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 X$ }* ?, ?; [$ z 烟花 fireworks ! G, m# b4 ]" n# Y' ^
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 ]: b3 p. b8 p2 p# }' O 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) # ?# ^3 @4 N5 _* {9 C$ }( h
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# p0 @- v7 L) w, y8 } 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ) U. D! G# N+ N4 i3 G
戏曲 traditional opera 9 p M# U$ K1 A/ c, Z8 i& R
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: v9 i# [; a) J! n2 e 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 J* n& ]! V9 h' e" }3 q+ {2 l/ m 灯会 exhibit of lanterns a: x& b5 [9 \6 S3 o
守岁 staying-up ) V: t- M: i0 J* U( W0 T5 ^
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, J: n3 Y4 U9 y- z; X) q' n8 X 禁忌 taboo & X3 Z: [9 ]( v* G6 Y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
, T W J5 @$ r# | 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ' h0 D# K, q, e/ x2 |
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( v/ l& |5 ~9 X" ^$ p. m0 s6 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
5 l9 `8 R9 K: R1 X% B 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
- M* q. o1 b8 S( { \- r 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
* F- M# E0 \; P" \( g0 g5 s0 e& [ Blessing: ( o9 z! w) g0 D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
t- W9 Y$ H9 E e Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace : I0 C! `2 [: ~3 j9 ?3 }
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go " b' j- E$ l6 Y
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ! A" N7 R2 I5 {8 M/ r" h$ V' b0 u
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
4 w/ T4 L0 B- w, Y Food names:
* N1 q0 k4 E3 X: a! F 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - ` c# n! p" E: q0 W' K d
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! c' r- t$ J0 ?+ `# ]
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
+ p! Y# b: n8 ^' Z1 ~; o 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
: y* l/ v, V9 \3 c- Z 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 2 r7 i0 w6 @1 I5 Z; u% s2 `# b
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ' e* X9 J+ j$ t! g- W
糖果盘 candy tray: - A3 O- r1 a( J- D+ Q
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 N: [, @# }) U& g3 R" e
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& F, l" W" k. |+ h$ a0 [ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity * y3 P# N! \. p; l/ J
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 x& \% Y7 `% I2 ?
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' C9 a" [! ^9 s5 B1 t: y
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 7 b# n' F t3 Y0 Z" Q5 K% M
红枣 red dates - prosperity
2 N! {* N: {- }; X) g; X; i% _ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
