Spring Festival Words
Greeting Season:
春节 The Spring Festival
字串8
农历 lunar calendar
月落网
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
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元宵节 The Lantern Festival 字串9
Customs:
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过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry yueluo.net
春联 Spring Festival couplets 月落
剪纸 paper-cuts 字串7
年画 New Year paintings
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
字串5
敬酒 propose a toast
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
烟花 fireworks www.yueluo.net
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
字串6
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming
year.)
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 月落网
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 字串7
戏曲 traditional opera 字串9
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville yueluo.net
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns www.yueluo.net
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
守岁 staying-up
字串6
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit yueluo.net
禁忌 taboo 字串7
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
字串6
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 字串8
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 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 字串9
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
月落网
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
Blessing: www.yueluo.net
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 plentiful 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!
字串5
事业成功,家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 月落网
Food names: 字串8
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 字串7
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
字串5
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
字串7
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 字串6
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 字串9