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Spring Festival Words
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 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 |
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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, 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.)
舞龙 dragon dance (to
expect good weather and good harvests)
戏曲 traditional
opera
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
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 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
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
扫房 spring cleaning; general
house-cleaning |
Blessings:
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| Treasures fill the home |
Business flourishes |
Peace all year round |
Wishing you prosperity |
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| Harmony brings wealth |
May all your wishes come true |
Everything goes well |
The country flourishes and people live
in peace |
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| Money and treasures will be
plentiful |
Wishing you every success
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Promoting to a higher
position |
Safe trip wherever you go
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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
（中国日报网站） | 
