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Spring Festival Words / s% u, S$ @7 s$ l
Greeting Season:
+ |* R* U' w- v 春节 The Spring Festival ' r# Q8 l- u' y9 i' v; Z
农历 lunar calendar
$ m$ `- Q4 @ I+ `. K 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 9 u; y# v7 B0 g3 J' n
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 t o9 Y0 |& J1 P' |, m1 V7 c: _( b 初一 the beginning of New Year ) f3 [& i: G7 y: a- e+ m+ r7 B2 Q$ j
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
|# Y7 ?2 K* z8 Q Customs: + ?8 F. s+ a* d* u* Q: ~. H8 ^
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
* l0 s( D/ X3 |0 m; [+ p; ^( R- M; t. F 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry - C; H' [2 f; L- H1 n
春联 Spring Festival couplets . O8 p- J2 _* U9 j" v6 I, `
剪纸 paper-cuts 2 N' T4 S# O0 B& v
年画 New Year paintings 2 Z2 ^% E5 E1 f
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
9 D5 s4 Z+ a# C8 `" D, F3 V- b. Z 敬酒 propose a toast
/ C$ }, m7 L; W$ u% | 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 V9 {7 p0 i( G Q- n5 U' {" i Q
烟花 fireworks - a! l% D) T1 R8 T6 J* J
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
( ~9 G! P6 f5 t- h: }4 n4 z; d 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 x! R6 U7 ]$ l& {% B G8 E& ~ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* m4 L/ Z: V5 G7 Y; t 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ; Q+ o; g3 ~( k: | L2 U0 |
戏曲 traditional opera 6 H- F0 b4 S( n k" _0 R
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
7 f( M! }3 q$ p0 @9 A* a 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
% X& \9 r* s2 m5 Z0 X 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 4 L% h' b w( [9 h
守岁 staying-up
% H7 k& e% l3 o+ O4 j 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# P; C5 D8 @7 l0 b 禁忌 taboo ; d6 Z. M3 A# f* d. s8 A: O
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* D0 t+ U' c, P8 r" j' J, R 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 r1 p" b3 d4 p0 w2 s- t 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) W4 o" v( l( `& t% `- v3 { 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
1 ^5 I: y# l' D2 x 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# q3 C1 ~5 [( L2 R7 w 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
5 p4 Y2 _9 p U4 v6 U5 o8 M6 o Blessing: * _+ R; q7 U+ L! k( H% ]
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
, {6 u9 I* \5 G Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
8 M2 h1 r" t1 g6 t2 T Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 ^* I: I( n$ U4 ^1 F4 h3 \; I* G s& I 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# v" n% ~( h& T& \* {3 w 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
8 E' d! o7 \/ h) I# y Food names: # c, j m: e: k. Z6 m) z
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 1 P, \" x7 H" g6 q& A% o$ I0 a$ A
团圆饭 family reunion dinner : V; S+ w5 ]2 ^8 M# y' n/ Q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 g0 [8 m: B7 _ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) B1 G0 ?) T1 y: V; f! U1 a 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, O- M ^+ Q$ n 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( W& V$ t" @" C) {) k2 b f5 m5 Y5 C
糖果盘 candy tray:
1 f, S, v3 A3 u& d) ~2 q1 \' G 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ ^, L @- c5 e( ?1 l5 D6 |' S: Q5 p
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 3 f4 {/ j: ]$ i: ^# {7 k
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! T: C V/ ]1 r7 q. C
金桔 cumquat - prosperity / p4 B1 c+ F, L0 p. W5 @1 z, H' H9 D: a
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
5 D2 [% t8 G& B 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
7 _9 a; o% T1 ^: o6 m' e; c( q 红枣 red dates - prosperity 1 x5 i; @. f5 F* S/ R. O
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
