春节小知识

【基本词汇与短语】： 【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
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

年画 New Year paintings 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 禁忌 taboo

拜年 pay New Year‘s call; give New Year‘s greetings; New Year‘s visit

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】：Inthe old days, New Year‘s money was given in the form of one hundredcopper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hopethat one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placedinside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and givento represent luck and wealth

辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

【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 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings

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 红枣 red dates - prosperity

糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come

糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship

花生糖 peanut candy - sweet

【Blessing】:

Treasures fill the home 财源广进
Business flourishes 事业兴隆
Peace all year round 岁岁平安
Wishing you prosperity 恭喜发财

Harmony brings wealth 家和万事兴
May all your wishes come true 心想事成
Everything goes well 万事如意
The country flourishes and people live in peace 国家富强、人民安康
Money and treasures will be plentiful 财源茂盛
Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position 事业有成、更上一层楼、蒸蒸日上
Safe trip wherever you go 一帆风顺

Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 祝你新的一年快乐幸福

Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 事业成功，家庭美满（阖家欢乐）