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Spring Festival Words
4 \- J' w5 ]! n, s Greeting Season:
1 u( g. S+ N6 @6 ^" w 春节 The Spring Festival 8 c0 _. M. Y% c* C6 m" T1 W# _
农历 lunar calendar
6 [8 m7 U( q7 Q. V7 M. @6 O 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 5 I; @5 p% @ W" u- d/ ]' n
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + @5 J; e# e1 q7 y
初一 the beginning of New Year
( _* q# e3 f$ n# O4 b 元宵节 The Lantern Festival & W$ o0 v2 u' R: S: ?5 O
Customs: - {6 C# l/ n4 r" E, {- ]1 Q
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival # v8 F$ W! \/ d9 I/ [4 n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ' V! r3 j; G/ {" B- D
春联 Spring Festival couplets + a5 o, c, u. S4 D. i+ R1 N* a7 x
剪纸 paper-cuts
A% l! h1 H3 ^1 q& c 年画 New Year paintings
1 O/ p8 Q8 k5 G' Z1 o+ L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
" q1 `% ^- _5 J# e+ w2 R/ X8 S 敬酒 propose a toast
* ^6 U, ]7 c* h% \3 n( q: A) ` 灯笼 lantern: a portable light " H& l/ T1 z1 f8 i& u
烟花 fireworks
; D: Q3 z6 q( m. a2 B* u$ L 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) " S1 U& H7 w" ^6 V; r4 b
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ! F' c8 P$ v1 X; J9 r( u( f# p
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 a; F' n2 ?8 [! k$ T
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & s( J( |( l0 i8 J: f& k8 M
戏曲 traditional opera
- u' G2 h/ K! j1 E0 G 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
+ |# X" z' \3 |, d& \ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
. J1 A% k5 H; a0 y 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
2 M: b. w+ c, x$ U3 X 守岁 staying-up
" M2 ?2 x3 m$ L3 o/ h6 {3 L 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
, z5 M- Y$ l! z3 B) h) K 禁忌 taboo
3 N3 X2 i* i, z: S! P" s 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
$ l& `9 B& q9 s9 \- G 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors . P! G2 T: H1 I/ n: q
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ; L: o! Y# B G! z7 R$ Q
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 0 B0 N5 O" b- d, {) p0 i
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
9 W) z2 L) s9 K8 {2 ]' w% P 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / o: A' A9 S* h5 o9 b" `$ Q- x& a
Blessing: 8 d9 ?$ }' X# D2 T" p! P* ~0 J; b
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 H. ?; a( X! G. }( { Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
6 s) U: t/ v* q! V Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 t& Z& n5 W2 H 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
$ R: e9 L+ P" v/ X. K( } 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 9 {1 r: h7 t8 d- z
Food names:
) e1 c K$ u+ u# O) z8 D 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - \# o3 \- P0 F
团圆饭 family reunion dinner : k: U& T6 Y) Q5 w7 {9 Z$ g
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 P) K) Y; E4 Q% ]7 ` i o+ C4 H' g u 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli , f/ p0 m6 {4 x$ g" `
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings * |4 g( l8 f0 m; o
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
4 Z1 A0 J5 E1 ^ 糖果盘 candy tray:
$ ]0 T$ R# P% I# y 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) Y% q% r$ T1 ?3 ]" J" D0 s
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& ]! ?! C+ y/ Y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
y8 G. ?+ {$ p0 `2 c 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 L+ ~( m$ p# b. a 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 8 @8 ?- S' L) o. u( {
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
2 w) c+ L* Z$ g/ O% P9 g5 V 红枣 red dates - prosperity
2 n! g! H9 S3 o0 Z T( D: P 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
