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Spring Festival Words . x8 w# U- i1 d6 k: T5 ?$ D0 V+ G
Greeting Season: / `& x! }- _0 B2 _$ v0 T7 J
春节 The Spring Festival ( a0 ?1 P' b+ s, }
农历 lunar calendar ' i3 y2 y: }% T. |: D+ z# M. E; ~
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
|; Z) k% A) E7 _8 z4 b 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 m# ?2 N5 u# ~% |6 y" W 初一 the beginning of New Year / m' K/ }/ ]0 P }5 q; o
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 2 R2 b S, Y7 a. E. B5 i3 |
Customs: ! L! |6 c# X- l$ F: M/ E2 q% t- L8 [$ @2 s
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 N0 L. Y8 i' z N1 W9 m8 V8 [: M 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
! F, x% O3 @1 X* a3 i& O) s 春联 Spring Festival couplets 5 X: w: h6 l7 x8 m, r! P9 V/ H: l
剪纸 paper-cuts ( R2 C; @: ], e) `0 B7 j+ {+ H! o
年画 New Year paintings
: @3 g/ g. I& F8 q" _% S 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
& _' Z4 j, U, x2 h: J 敬酒 propose a toast 4 _, Q4 ^ h2 H" U# a
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 ~" o) Z, f' _7 c* s" |; e
烟花 fireworks
. K. [. m3 q$ r6 v% Q) L 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ x" d( S3 N8 f 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) : m* |# @' B) E5 c4 p; H
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 5 `& u9 t( J6 l, u* e
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) # y; l9 G4 O8 K0 W1 X5 h9 k5 q
戏曲 traditional opera - @& s; ~' h- z2 M t0 v2 |& w% K( d
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
9 z3 Z0 a+ R4 | 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns # W7 {) h V' k
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
7 B6 f2 q* l' W 守岁 staying-up ( ~- X% |6 r2 l
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit / |- }8 A4 M/ h/ R' N
禁忌 taboo ; `! h- n. K$ b3 i# W+ v. m6 A
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
" o# A2 R( V2 p* f 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors - ^% r; {! ~/ o& Q1 S
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % g4 J; Q k( U9 J& [' B. S
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 I1 B, m8 E s; b5 P% n* m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( `/ ]4 B6 [& ?, W
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
0 `4 x! s" z! G Blessing: 9 x& b+ _8 M9 W
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity : \4 {& j) f4 C0 b% Y
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace # B9 X4 y3 G! J: I+ j8 ~7 [ ]
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / i- |; J- ~% U4 B; B. O! f
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 I" h- \; s# s
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 7 H( H, _0 y2 B
Food names:
$ X8 a$ {" n h) A8 d 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - t; |: |" K* j8 x" _$ n8 f
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; T5 K' g$ O' Z9 p1 y9 h
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ) L+ _' y% K' M2 }- Q
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* E; F( e2 N! i2 b5 M/ `4 | 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings - x$ i, x1 l4 n* p4 |" }) w' }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding " m/ M1 N9 _8 B! V* k) Y) x8 n/ f
糖果盘 candy tray:
8 L E8 f5 f0 F# k7 I 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
" l% F; r5 Q# l% ]' \6 D0 w 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
* \+ C5 L K2 i& {1 d- v r 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) \5 A9 [% y, {/ j( X4 Q! w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
) i2 m$ E8 g+ n: f 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
8 h8 ~1 m. I+ k; Z' k+ R( @7 T 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 8 y0 H% N1 i* t% N+ d
红枣 red dates - prosperity
8 _6 n( E, S+ h3 e$ [4 N7 B x 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
