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Spring Festival Words
; X# B: `3 c" `4 \ Greeting Season: 4 m$ Z* q W$ F( d+ ]
春节 The Spring Festival
' q( S$ w* ]% ~ 农历 lunar calendar 9 I( \9 V" t$ [$ _
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
) r0 @% L7 _& b. {) p" e% @1 I! ~0 } 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
/ t4 ~8 Y, p/ U; D: s* L) ?: ^ 初一 the beginning of New Year
: ^0 u% s' g' K1 P: v 元宵节 The Lantern Festival ' R3 z- s. |' L, v. z6 F# a b
Customs:
4 M% Q# |/ C( a% ^9 o 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 9 o& ^* l. s( V0 S" t) q5 ~8 P* h
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 6 d5 ?8 B8 ~% P. m, l( b' t
春联 Spring Festival couplets " T) H4 t/ |2 O9 k' V8 k8 J: N& B
剪纸 paper-cuts
3 Y8 ?9 H9 n/ H6 r! y" f* R 年画 New Year paintings , m$ W! _8 U: I& i N3 S$ L' |
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
3 v( j; L5 @/ o/ T9 ` 敬酒 propose a toast
^, j* \ e) K ~ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. [0 v- L5 V U( X1 L4 b( J 烟花 fireworks 7 _$ B2 S1 m$ ]4 {
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 a e& N# y1 c2 g 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . S8 }5 d! k" Z4 l+ g
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; z1 F2 X- o# j# ?* h- T. A/ Y
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
+ L0 p9 ~5 `7 y8 J6 @, [- p 戏曲 traditional opera 3 a+ [, N8 R" U/ D, |5 F: ~
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 1 N0 H% g0 {! [8 Z
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 n/ \4 O+ F y4 ? ]: [ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns % Z- S; [+ a# u9 [; M* @. I
守岁 staying-up
! S7 D. {6 e" _1 x5 G 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
+ B" |8 Q. ` R" D0 T$ N 禁忌 taboo
$ u( Y% t0 @+ d9 N& _1 X 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 8 i6 l. _! J( ~4 H! ?2 S2 f
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
( i: }, d: A9 F' B9 b- L 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* B2 c) u5 ^! B9 e( ? 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 * S/ S0 b0 i& [* m" {+ M
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
8 o# O: B" q0 O3 Y& \) t 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
$ E3 Q: t; ]3 N2 v9 D$ Q Blessing:
% }2 c- b: f; V* A" D Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
+ h3 n8 ]. d3 l. i Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! ?# ^/ q% k8 i/ V a! K1 { Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ) S5 U6 }, J) j E+ p5 l
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( J6 i9 [! B- G" | 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ; C, j% I9 G0 U: U3 f) o, K2 J7 Q( k
Food names:
+ {, I5 |5 S2 H( u+ _5 |/ j 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 6 c0 M; _2 q* ~. `) d7 Q5 P/ w
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 2 |* }4 Z. z& w0 W `
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve % b& h. c7 X$ K
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 Z$ A3 q; |( r1 T2 Z! Y1 A4 z
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings v7 l+ k( f. s e# h8 ^
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding + I5 ^% f/ l, t3 _6 a- W6 _5 b
糖果盘 candy tray: ( @$ o/ I6 c, W; B
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 9 b1 W k9 Y: J' k: `
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ G( N: b H! t+ s* e" ? 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
4 `! b. e' v. w' `0 v( q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity j) |0 ]% `/ T8 t# _$ E
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 |0 V# p) q' E$ ^5 b 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " C5 Q6 U3 Q* B5 X0 m6 W, \8 ]
红枣 red dates - prosperity
: G- q2 J9 @5 K; Q' K. D 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
