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Spring Festival Words
3 A. t$ O1 `, x4 B# o2 T: s Greeting Season: $ L& {% m$ M5 d0 a; q% F
春节 The Spring Festival / W4 L* W7 b/ d' I
农历 lunar calendar
" z& @! i* h1 ]/ _: b; y 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 8 g& i) y4 d# ~$ h) F) h
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
$ Q0 f7 c& y/ P$ B' B: S 初一 the beginning of New Year 8 o# _. S7 Q1 d$ V g% `
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 {8 J2 ~& l4 H Customs:
9 a0 p0 v% ]! y) S" { 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 p8 z+ c: ~" F0 J0 S& z) ~ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# N% u+ b4 r4 C9 } 春联 Spring Festival couplets
0 u$ r1 ^8 `7 B6 ~ 剪纸 paper-cuts $ k1 ]0 O- |3 N2 d J+ y
年画 New Year paintings Z9 V$ N# e0 i; e) ^' B
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + T$ ?: b/ E3 U, [, T, M! s6 z4 Y
敬酒 propose a toast
! k- Y+ }9 v: Z# x- D( ? 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 5 X# S1 i4 W0 X. T8 B
烟花 fireworks 9 [1 F0 \5 ^3 P3 k* e7 R
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
7 C6 R9 w) d$ p) n4 j& _+ T 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
s% O+ X/ `2 T: \' J5 Z$ d 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; X- s& j( c$ n& C 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
$ z' O8 c" Z% F o; G 戏曲 traditional opera
5 i# t1 A% f- Q6 Q9 @ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
4 a! {& o$ G- z7 {7 S! ]$ s& J( A: S 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 6 {4 {$ ^3 U$ E- V+ ^9 _$ I6 P8 d, n
灯会 exhibit of lanterns * L3 M: v$ m1 O* l7 P2 |$ p0 i- n
守岁 staying-up 0 p' O. Q* T9 }( E
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
+ U& l, S3 v0 _% P8 u* H 禁忌 taboo
. {. c& R' O0 _ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- Y# Z* A( T! }) S# H7 m4 M 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 5 C6 ~: Q" p8 Y( Z% p
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& A: M" f. y* F" t. L 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 2 N+ N5 w) z; o* o" b5 s
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: ^" h/ Z; ^5 A$ {9 l 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning * Y6 O$ q! y! o
Blessing:
. {/ ]$ n4 K( V% B7 G. J. H Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % o- v3 D( G, }+ W- W: T
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # S) p2 v% a- V. b, t
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
# Q& b- `2 \0 h6 @" @- q# C' b 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
6 b+ H/ f2 Z# T, J 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 5 u9 S8 |& q+ |3 |2 g* V
Food names:
! I" x$ p9 Q/ ~* ^2 M% S 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 D7 K) Y# b* M6 E' _$ g6 y 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ( J5 L; l( _ U& X& @3 F
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve $ [1 V$ |$ _" D* v' O% l% f
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ' {4 C3 v* \* x6 b3 _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, x( F# h! s$ j: |- t1 T! o0 _( x 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 5 Q! Q) i8 M+ G3 ?% h9 R
糖果盘 candy tray: 8 Z* t a- U8 v
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 e) k1 F+ C6 A' f
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 4 g$ ~7 s6 H4 U: v+ }! g" N0 u
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
5 Z# U: H7 T' V E 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
' d9 @1 d5 I! ~7 @" _- p 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
) }, t @! k, n+ h 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship * z4 a* G+ C% s; v7 \1 t
红枣 red dates - prosperity
; S" f8 w. K" o: \ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00