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Spring Festival Words " w2 e# U+ H+ C* G( S; I) g
Greeting Season:
& k0 w* B/ A" D+ H# B6 Q1 X$ I" M 春节 The Spring Festival
3 t k( x" G1 ^# T 农历 lunar calendar ' U/ `; L$ @9 z* r6 s$ R
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ; L, Y3 x0 C- N0 q$ u
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . v) r$ L6 f1 D# g" J' O# e
初一 the beginning of New Year ( z M, f: T- _, |2 y# i
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ( A" Y9 P! F2 P' w% r
Customs:
# w2 i/ v" X% k ^: R& X 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival $ V1 D) q7 M% L& \. D6 `( ]# z
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
3 V# o7 q% w3 v4 r% E! p& a$ J6 W 春联 Spring Festival couplets
{ I9 I" \3 e( D: ~8 s9 [ 剪纸 paper-cuts 1 v& ? h# @/ B4 _% O6 S9 v) _* }
年画 New Year paintings 3 s9 `& K3 c7 W4 \$ I: P- P5 L
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 9 w6 w' G t. @" ]$ a2 {
敬酒 propose a toast $ ^0 F, [* C2 _1 h
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
6 N, H, Y. i( i# X- M 烟花 fireworks , b3 Q& W- s* L( }+ T3 a: i ?! D
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) + r4 ~( f% c% \5 M7 S7 a, D
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
* r8 m( l( j4 N7 U5 o9 h: X 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% C7 h7 ]) u3 L, I4 X 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) ( ?# f- s3 @( Z) B
戏曲 traditional opera - V5 N7 S* Y3 ~6 c# Y
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& c' n- l+ C" ]; ^1 L& z; S5 { 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns , V, ]/ C3 L) E% `' ^
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 N) z; v6 f) s3 D1 S2 l8 l
守岁 staying-up 0 W# V8 w2 \5 j3 _
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# p# `! c& r8 m3 r/ e% h, c# U8 O 禁忌 taboo
3 B9 ~0 X) z& ^- Z- _9 X7 x' R 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) y, ?/ c7 W# W5 T' ~4 M, N 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
# r/ p; G! d4 [, g- w Z) c9 s3 d 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
9 v5 p0 h' S5 v% c" a5 O 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 ; {. T- Q- b, e5 C4 r: Q5 t
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ [, p3 t4 l* ~ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / C) L$ ~% W+ a# Y V: Y
Blessing: 2 s' Z5 }: |$ V2 l0 q* }% {
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity , N# [( v) O9 _0 E% l- K
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( m$ {% B/ ]6 Z+ N# @
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 0 U1 U: @9 D& ?. j8 `
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : r. ~& F, n4 g8 _3 }
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! * }" Q i) h1 ~. K# h% L
Food names: / s; K" F! F: B! ~ C( w
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 7 m5 l4 x: q5 N( E# X6 m
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
6 y( g4 \4 x3 z5 J: s. F 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve : m& R0 b; g+ e9 r# W4 s. J
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . L+ e0 M" d Z5 @
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 s% h! e2 o2 K 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
8 _$ Z/ L0 r/ E3 I' `0 ]; P4 k. O s4 J 糖果盘 candy tray: ) n8 Y z4 J+ A' E* k2 A2 c
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
& |7 M" J2 L9 q% x 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : I. a: k+ n: o: r6 i2 H5 f1 K
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity # P+ ~" m" S: S8 E7 Q1 e3 Y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
: B8 w0 E) ~3 i1 a 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # |( ], L; c$ q/ z7 E2 H* ~
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " E" J8 y2 U9 N2 ~6 ^
红枣 red dates - prosperity $ }9 c! r) l4 p9 C" F/ L
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00
