Spring Festival Words

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<span style='color:red'>Greeting Season:</span><br><br>春节 The Spring Festival<br>农历 lunar calendar<br>正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar<br>除夕 New Year&#39;s Eve; eve of lunar New Year<br>初一 the beginning of New Year<br>元宵节 The Lantern Festival<br>

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<span style='color:red'>Customs:</span><br><br>过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival<br>对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry<br>春联 Spring Festival couplets<br>剪纸 paper-cuts<br>年画 New Year paintings<br>买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping<br>敬酒 propose a toast<br>灯笼 lantern: a portable light<br>烟花 fireworks<br>爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)<br>红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming<br>year.)<br>舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)<br>舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)<br>戏曲 traditional opera<br>杂耍 variety show; vaudeville<br>灯谜 riddles written on lanterns<br>灯会 exhibit of lanterns<br>守岁 staying-up<br>拜年 pay New Year&#39;s call; give New Year&#39;s greetings; New Year&#39;s visit<br>禁忌 taboo<br>去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune<br>祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one&#39;s ancestors<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&#39;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<br>辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year<br>扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning<br>

quantum

<span style='color:red'>Blessings:</span><br><br>恭喜发财: May you be prosperous&#33;<br>祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year&#33;<br>大吉大利: May you very lucky, very auspicious in the new year&#33; Wish you all<br> the best&#33;<br>事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family&#33;<br>

quantum

<span style='color:red'>Food names:</span><br><br>年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake<br>团圆饭 family reunion dinner<br>年夜饭 the dinner on New Year&#39;s Eve<br>饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli<br>汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed<br> with either sweet or spicy fillings<br>八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding<br>糖果盘 candy tray:<br>什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune<br>蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health<br>西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity<br>金桔 cumquat - prosperity<br>糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come<br>糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship<br>红枣 red dates - prosperity<br>花生糖 peanut candy - sweet<br><br>