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Spring Festival Words . [+ z% k/ n( L0 r# u2 X
Greeting Season: 7 ?/ o3 m# S. g$ \9 r& `
春节 The Spring Festival 7 J2 q# u+ O' d5 v2 T
农历 lunar calendar + R2 w0 \9 j/ F( q' V
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
0 T6 p" n$ b+ b! d- @ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 _) S% J/ A9 z: G, J' w5 m' j
初一 the beginning of New Year
2 Q5 D. n% ]2 F/ _/ L" O( x 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' N4 r* h7 G, d9 ?( w& C Customs:
! N: s+ j+ R7 U" c f; Q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
! Y2 K) ~! N, ?1 Y- @7 ?4 ~ q! E$ Z 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 _; B r+ P* x5 Y" n
春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 @8 T! _0 ?# o7 z' m+ w) y3 I( T
剪纸 paper-cuts 7 }, Q; Y8 O; H" x% c
年画 New Year paintings
- i! o8 G" s" ?; c% W- z# e9 }7 r9 S: g 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 Z1 P n% [2 n6 K' q8 n; \1 P 敬酒 propose a toast - k/ u. C( r7 g7 ]1 K2 K6 f3 O
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* \6 m& U! t- E9 N 烟花 fireworks # n$ R7 F }' z
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 1 }; n4 J: [* r/ R, w
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ) \) D: v4 j1 S, X- o# `; Z" u
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 _7 Z/ m! \$ ?( R! u+ B% [
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
f2 Y, t3 b e 戏曲 traditional opera ! A; f# R# A0 c! j
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
7 ?- {. g7 L+ U, z l2 {& s 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
T4 X `# N7 y% G 灯会 exhibit of lanterns $ ?/ F' f( g9 j+ u: }
守岁 staying-up $ e" I. S1 w5 v6 @
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
6 _; F9 F8 Z2 ~& J" F- D2 s 禁忌 taboo 9 G% g) V6 I/ d( i9 p
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
! g# u+ U( {' N; K; |0 H7 B 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors - y, P9 j( h# @, e% l
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift / o. M3 V* K. N
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
( F! M9 P. K/ t4 z! M 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
; [2 [/ U/ H, h5 R 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
, R; K5 {/ b$ `7 k& K Blessing: $ `! R; p' L6 W+ D
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 M# w4 I2 f% C. z+ q Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
* M: L& n1 u& c) Y5 [0 i+ ~ Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 n" ~6 D5 @. I: F; D
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
. l* W" @; ^* c. H 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ X* U' Q# r* y& }) k: z Food names:
# q; g0 r2 k, j8 | 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake k a9 ^) e6 l$ q8 E
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 Y; t z% a% P 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve " N2 ^2 q1 Q# J
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli : T7 f; d: D$ t$ J0 a o) y& \
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
$ B$ p: ]% o% F; M! U# E& u1 [' J! S 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - c k2 Z4 w6 _ M) K2 l: s
糖果盘 candy tray:
) |2 c+ U% r" j 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) E: j' T) p1 Z" F3 S) {6 j. @
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health {2 C0 j* C6 @( ?3 @1 _
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
& b: }1 e1 t g* h/ t 金桔 cumquat - prosperity O$ Q$ {3 o8 P" m+ }
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. v& @2 |( T8 Q) L! n U ? 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
1 Y! |9 @3 W$ u7 o J2 g) v 红枣 red dates - prosperity 2 n8 @! e( y9 i" I: d
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00