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poetic 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riddles 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taboo

　　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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