Spring Festival Words

　　Greeting Season:
　　春节 The Spring Festival

　　农历 lunar calendar

　　正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar

　　除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year

　　初一 the beginning of New Year

　　元宵节 The Lantern Festival

　　Customs:

　　过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival

　　对联 poetic¹ couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry

　　春联 Spring Festival couplets

　　剪纸 paper-cuts

　　年画 New Year paintings

　　买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

　　敬酒 propose a toast

　　灯笼 lantern: a portable light

　　烟花 fireworks

　　爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)

　　红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize² fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

　　舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel³ evil and bring good luck.)

　　舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

　　戏曲 traditional opera

　　杂耍 variety show; vaudeville⁴

　　灯谜 riddles⁵ written on lanterns

　　灯会 exhibit of lanterns

　　守岁 staying-up

　　拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit

　　禁忌 taboo⁶

　　去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune

　　祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors

　　压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift

　　Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper⁷ coins strung together on a red string and symbolized⁸ the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations⁹ considered auspicious¹⁰ and given to represent luck and wealth

　　辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

　　扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

　　Blessing¹¹:

　　Treasures fill the home

　　Business flourishes

　　Peace all year round

　　Wishing you prosperity

　　Harmony brings wealth

　　May all your wishes come true

　　Everything goes well

　　The country flourishes and people live in peace

　　Money and treasures will be plentiful¹²

　　Wishing you every success

　　Promoting to a higher position

　　Safe trip wherever you go

　　祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!

　　事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!

　　Food names:

　　年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake

　　团圆饭 family reunion dinner

　　年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve

　　饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli

　　汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings

　　八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding

　　糖果盘 candy tray:

　　什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune

　　蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health

　　西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity

　　金桔 cumquat - prosperity

　　糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come

　　糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship

　　红枣 red dates - prosperity

　　花生糖 peanut candy - sweet

 

 

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