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Spring Festival Words 0 Z0 b" ~+ F! q& g! ]+ ]' o
Greeting Season: & Z4 O d( d& R$ ~' U* E
春节 The Spring Festival
D+ W# D5 Y& K0 R 农历 lunar calendar 5 }0 w& _5 H+ h, e- L
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' r, r; i) E$ u6 ^" L8 B* X
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
+ S1 D& _ a2 z! z* Z* K 初一 the beginning of New Year
! C/ a$ A$ | Q# v1 G9 C 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
9 {* a, F( h2 d) R3 E Y. N- l Customs: , B! ^$ g% p% X) `' C/ s
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
6 p6 }; W5 o$ G 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
1 z2 n: S* }1 g* S' \$ d 春联 Spring Festival couplets
- M! C) Y$ o2 a6 _ b) Z7 b# ^* Z 剪纸 paper-cuts
7 `; u; X! F1 M# z: g 年画 New Year paintings 0 U) l) M( I0 `& o- |
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 6 |' M5 K8 }! }$ ~
敬酒 propose a toast
; V( G4 k7 I# o0 v) F; o 灯笼 lantern: a portable light - p: m1 `" _* I5 _3 h
烟花 fireworks ; o3 I& v6 s- k! [2 k; `
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; B" S0 U7 _. {8 g, O; G; z 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ( B: Z* g0 ?, m! B
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; |9 V7 t% Z9 q9 M# {0 e | [% z j
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' v1 m; z* o& D6 h% `+ [# e/ S 戏曲 traditional opera
5 S" z6 Q1 ^1 w6 [" \- P 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville & P$ S+ \* N D6 A( ^6 ^/ K
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 6 U: i3 i& t& a. }' L( l" V1 w
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
+ V) |; R6 F# v, K1 `( M( ] 守岁 staying-up
6 j/ `# {8 `+ a, l0 k6 ]* p 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit / Z8 U! a& M2 k) p* l$ o6 G! u8 g
禁忌 taboo
+ _8 e$ B2 W' p1 y2 N6 W1 a5 H4 w 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
; V& S2 r, l5 T- ]% K" M 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
$ k+ M' ~ R) z" T4 @: s 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
V7 c+ [5 o0 o/ F, r" I 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
. G" @! R4 ?( g 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 8 _& v. @! n; W- n# y/ g+ _) ]8 }/ V
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 K. |! T3 J! W Blessing: 8 i5 a5 w+ d% p2 y
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity # p% k; b J d3 ]8 A
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / w e7 }6 p! _% G
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
1 a, K6 T, `# S; L% b3 J7 r 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 f/ Q" E: I! W8 p+ D- @- h/ r
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
( O2 e3 l1 p D; c! U/ C6 F Food names:
0 H( X1 d9 L) T8 e" y4 U 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
( w/ O4 p( J" K5 N* A1 ] 团圆饭 family reunion dinner " s$ d6 G6 [' W' Z" e3 ?/ X
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 5 [ G6 T. {8 N r# q- P
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
W6 E+ u, k* |; V0 v& v7 z 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 B" @: c5 A4 P/ I; Q ]! ?
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - g( x3 b$ a5 E4 L0 d
糖果盘 candy tray:
$ j; M x" b5 z2 @$ A 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
# z3 b) W0 j! @$ P' `6 X+ k+ R# I9 c# K 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
3 ?/ u. k; g0 E 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 9 F# s8 @- |$ i
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 7 E1 g. Q- Z0 C% Z p
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come , ~% D0 }' p( l/ M! J C1 m; @# g- N
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
9 @6 j, Z2 F/ G" s* P 红枣 red dates - prosperity , V* H! E3 L" a( C7 T
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
