|
Spring Festival Words , z1 b, l* i4 W# e
Greeting Season:
9 [: g+ x4 f* Q8 a; w5 t 春节 The Spring Festival
7 N* m( D$ e D: M4 Y 农历 lunar calendar
/ y" M1 v7 Y6 w 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 9 ?7 Z5 p: P( P9 c- R3 a6 D
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ) b4 C3 l+ T6 E% I* P' ?& |% _) a, U6 z
初一 the beginning of New Year
# j, Q5 Y: `. `. K5 W* N! J6 b 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % y9 `- R) e+ z7 Y
Customs:
' s! w) G4 A) @7 F: q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " }& @' L; ~) m' Z+ c: P) \' I0 Q: G a
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
$ w t8 |0 w7 b* d+ k. } 春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 `) P2 W7 L) P. N$ b' I 剪纸 paper-cuts 0 \! B4 [% U: V% B
年画 New Year paintings % H3 ?0 d0 Z M6 m
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; h) f- L- R: z" N8 r 敬酒 propose a toast . R. _- L) ~ K3 T( g9 `
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
9 [- U2 v7 i/ d! l8 s1 {3 [( @- f 烟花 fireworks
4 b D8 x2 l) a. ^ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) . x, b8 A( @6 k+ b8 H
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
5 c! {$ |+ n3 j2 H) y 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + u& T; b8 t: i
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
, h6 D$ z" {' a* l, {: n/ V 戏曲 traditional opera
" q& G9 D& i1 m5 ]6 C8 e 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville $ h5 H5 D5 ?$ s% W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 w, ^+ t1 e0 w8 I 灯会 exhibit of lanterns U8 m( U) W& K
守岁 staying-up
: S/ b8 x' \: x0 A" a. A 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 P1 \3 ]1 ~. A! d/ Z0 h 禁忌 taboo 9 S# O8 m' g: ^6 t. |" V; I+ c* X" G
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) N5 B6 ^6 m! ^; q+ g 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
8 i- B- B0 J9 M1 d" O- X) Y$ Y& o 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& h7 I" z8 R1 i4 }' Q; i9 N+ k 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 " {6 K( i% }8 I& U: C6 o
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 2 G: c/ {1 ]+ f9 ]
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning . U; h3 \% ~/ W9 [! D( p2 i
Blessing:
9 S+ _/ ?- ?- ^& R3 M. [ Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
0 P0 e9 ^* P' J8 e9 x# W5 u- \2 z. p Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) W" H( F1 a' p0 l/ r R5 e
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - |' p: N4 {7 u$ O. I& _% p
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! # y! _1 p0 o' A! p+ R/ T7 |/ E- f
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
9 s0 B- a, ^) W3 h, A8 @" ` Food names: & m, i4 k/ l8 Q3 J& H, M3 w
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 g: P! \+ i" M0 J& k9 | 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
: W/ V1 V% e( c4 t0 e+ h3 Y: @ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve " a$ ^0 \ e; T
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
& z- s! K6 L+ a5 ]8 ~- ~ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
$ \. |1 e. J1 |1 k) }( Q 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding # u5 q# ^7 b2 D5 Z) v+ ?* w
糖果盘 candy tray: , F8 H! p' S L
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 5 e5 F. X' V+ l( b) l* n8 M& V
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health + T3 W( P- T! _* |
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 3 \0 Q' q J3 \2 D \& K5 |" v6 O
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
4 E3 `6 G4 n4 x g2 M# F 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come " ~6 V; w6 q- ?; n( L- E9 p
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
, B( }& J# U2 z8 T: { | 红枣 red dates - prosperity
# L) m4 q9 E0 y# ?) B 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
