Spring Festival Words

余岚0528

Greeting Season:
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<br>春节 The Spring Festival
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<br>农历 lunar calendar
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<br>正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
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<br>除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
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<br>初一 the beginning of New Year
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<br>元宵节 The Lantern Festival
<br>Customs:
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<br>过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
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<br>对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
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<br>春联 Spring Festival couplets
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<br>剪纸 paper-cuts
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<br>年画 New Year paintings
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<br>买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
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<br>敬酒 propose a toast
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<br>灯笼 lantern: a portable light
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<br>烟花 fireworks
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<br>爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
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<br>红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming
<br>year.)
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<br>舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
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<br>舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
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<br>戏曲 traditional opera
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<br>杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
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<br>灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
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<br>灯会 exhibit of lanterns
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<br>守岁 staying-up
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<br>拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
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<br>禁忌 taboo
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<br>去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
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<br>祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
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<br>压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
<br>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
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<br>辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
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<br>扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
<br>Blessings:
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<br>Treasures fill the home    Business flourishes    Peace all year round    Wishing you prosperity  
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<br>Harmony brings wealth   May all your wishes come true    Everything goes well    The country flourishes and people live in peace  
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<br>Money and treasures will be plentiful      Wishing you every success     Promoting to a higher position      Safe trip wherever you go  
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<br>祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
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<br>事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
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<br>Food names:
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<br>年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
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<br>团圆饭 family reunion dinner
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<br>年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
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<br>饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
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<br>汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or
<br>spicy fillings
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<br>八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
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<br>糖果盘 candy tray:
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<br>什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
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<br>蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
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<br>西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
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<br>金桔 cumquat - prosperity
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<br>糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
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<br>糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
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<br>红枣 red dates - prosperity
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<br>花生糖 peanut candy - sweet
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<br>（中国日报网站）
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