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Spring Festival Words 2 t: o8 K. P# L5 ~' u- A" E
Greeting Season: 2 m `9 `9 m' Y. A. `& G
春节 The Spring Festival
4 X" J5 E* {5 U( U$ ^/ q 农历 lunar calendar 6 P0 s# K, _. {" s4 W& L6 c
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
2 f* a; a% G* R: _6 @ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% `4 |% F5 Z; [+ }0 D 初一 the beginning of New Year ; L0 X* ^$ C' b; C! w
元宵节 The Lantern Festival % P4 l' a+ |7 A- E; u0 b+ p
Customs:
7 u& S" ^4 i9 q% Y2 M 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival * l# d$ W3 G/ M; c% ]! L0 b
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry " ]# w, @" g l
春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 o' S3 Q6 g4 R
剪纸 paper-cuts 9 h' F3 B: g5 ^, b6 k. A6 D6 Q
年画 New Year paintings
8 o4 D- u2 ?3 }: i 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping / i' D/ u |+ Q0 P0 a5 j, X7 }
敬酒 propose a toast 9 X) a) v/ @8 P
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
L6 I5 L2 s7 J* Q7 a1 A; h! _ 烟花 fireworks ! l P( X; K5 A/ b% C
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
e% R' s. ^, K- L0 t 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) $ D) B0 H+ s' x& C N
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
2 \+ y. ]6 | u7 h$ \# L! E/ L 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) * Z4 C- t% C, o9 k* p; D4 e" ^
戏曲 traditional opera
1 I: R5 ?- j, ?2 x2 @% Y4 T 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 3 N5 M# y0 M; G& Y
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 {3 r! m$ k0 F 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
3 E+ R8 v% D" ^5 v' h, g2 S 守岁 staying-up * B. u# Q) h# r7 a- s
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , e% [4 \, \/ H3 f3 s: v0 T' E. X/ W
禁忌 taboo
C- i4 |% a& T2 x, E 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ( l) E0 x8 M+ I2 O: r4 I( g J/ V
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
V+ [$ e% }7 E! y8 D 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % h: E: c. j6 x
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
) z5 L1 l( u0 T! o4 t7 @$ a7 P 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ' w6 L% Q4 \5 R/ u9 t' @0 f+ m9 U/ S1 D
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : N1 Q- n3 J! d8 h h0 ~
Blessing:
. I8 m) e: L% S% @2 ? Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 2 E8 Y: I; X4 r& y1 K3 D7 Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / S9 I$ f* i6 E2 F/ P9 T* {1 k" x
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
2 L& N* F5 _4 D1 n 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! & x% {. b9 X, }/ S8 t# Z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 1 T; G3 z' i1 I8 _' J+ e1 ~, d
Food names: 4 X3 v: S; K$ j* G
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
/ u Q( A' } O7 y3 D) J' y 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
+ Q3 _& }9 J0 v" P0 d( O" Q/ f 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
/ c, @5 I& G5 `7 q 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / j; h! Q9 Q# n
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
3 a! h. n, l( i: p b3 A 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
' a1 p d# ^& A& v6 j, P( K; S; ^ 糖果盘 candy tray:
! |/ z p0 s& v( n6 R) c 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
1 S2 ?' ^9 G) L/ |$ L2 N2 x+ f$ g 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 D6 |5 k4 ]9 t 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) d* z: b( F8 y5 C7 K0 H9 A% {9 Q2 @
金桔 cumquat - prosperity & u' F1 q0 n- V
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come + @. }' M$ a% {' ~/ x
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
/ I) x! y Y6 a1 R% a4 |+ v% n 红枣 red dates - prosperity 1 c7 k6 s! N3 [* g( E: j, r
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
