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Spring Festival Words $ Z4 i- X" n: i' K) v6 @: g) Z
Greeting Season: 2 I1 h# O1 m) M" M9 |( d. Q
春节 The Spring Festival 2 _0 g- Y6 S+ N- J. H' Z5 w+ K
农历 lunar calendar
! O& p; F3 S0 V7 |7 z1 R- d 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
3 m+ Y4 H; Q( }' E4 t0 b* A 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 y+ A9 d3 R* P9 E 初一 the beginning of New Year
+ H# s/ } N, ]# c6 Y- J 元宵节 The Lantern Festival " B/ {) m E7 n# A# ]% y
Customs: " i |$ p" N1 K9 N. p7 S" x
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival , S4 t8 f* t# s4 \
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
) _) d, j) ~& D* U 春联 Spring Festival couplets $ P! n. u( e6 E r- a
剪纸 paper-cuts # @- l- h# i% h: x8 `) k
年画 New Year paintings 1 }% h, _7 ^+ {: s; W; K) m
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
1 m; C+ X: K# P+ U3 W7 D 敬酒 propose a toast , ?& b( [ y* s
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 j5 k3 S8 n/ s" Y+ @0 |4 N
烟花 fireworks
7 z" H Z% j! F T; Q, N4 f. s5 E6 n 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; A& \ C( j; Q- T8 U I+ b* K 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . i8 w& q, G0 l& i' _: E! A
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) * ~& _+ R/ o1 d
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) - e3 B0 l: C3 \: N+ v1 n: ~7 {
戏曲 traditional opera " Q; N, r( x$ U
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 5 R0 @) J( I2 Z1 ?/ O- `6 ~& P
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
6 \ n# s0 s2 A 灯会 exhibit of lanterns * r" V9 U( e B( k8 Z
守岁 staying-up 6 a* g# ?2 L1 x8 K
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit # T" W) h2 l( h8 M1 K6 v& A
禁忌 taboo + p5 c f& w$ M
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune _( m5 E# p; b- V, e+ U' ~! |
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
9 g7 `% h, s# }3 [ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 D4 i+ D: |* p i# z! Z& C
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
. Q1 w$ N! w8 O8 e( _/ F. D& n 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
0 P& c4 H( l+ L5 z# U" _ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning " I! c E$ E5 ], z
Blessing:
$ [* ]) ?( Z$ w# G9 h Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
1 E% ^0 X- R) H- V, m) ] Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 1 S! r; b* }- ]0 d5 c1 _9 U
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go $ d2 _" x6 z5 J2 h0 |" F6 V$ j
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* c p) W) o' @; c3 u0 |8 m 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 8 v: W% L9 W7 M
Food names: % Q0 ]; _3 J+ N# x1 r8 y
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 9 S$ R; M' l' h+ i
团圆饭 family reunion dinner " X9 a5 D. V1 B1 Q/ d
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 6 ]1 q$ T& F' J2 [1 ~, f
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ; s) @( F. G2 S8 \' o
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ; W5 B2 {! q* g/ k) i; j
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
0 x! U5 \( O# l4 I7 X' A 糖果盘 candy tray: 4 ]- T, S. n" z, U3 S
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
! w) E2 e4 t0 S( u 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
0 u' x* m5 y( s' | 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
/ Y3 J' b8 K# R' l, ` 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 ~ Y1 p5 s) o- K 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
+ h; Z) `4 q6 \! r8 T# E6 M% u2 w 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
' g3 \8 V! E* w* f) M2 M& U Q 红枣 red dates - prosperity ) i0 F/ G6 r S# m0 y, v( `9 |
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
