<STRONG><BR></STRONG><FONT color=green><FONT color=red><STRONG>★ </STRONG></FONT><BR></FONT><BR>春节快到了，来点春节相关的英语吧<BR><BR>Greeting Season:<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's Eve; eve of lunar New Year <BR>初一　the beginning of New Year<BR>元宵节　The Lantern Festival <BR><BR>Customs:<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 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's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit<BR>禁忌　taboo<BR>去晦气　get rid of the ill-fortune<BR>祭祖宗　offer sacrifices to one's ancestors<BR>压岁钱　gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift <BR><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<BR><BR>辞旧岁　bid farewell to the old year<BR>扫房　spring cleaning; general house-cleaning<BR><BR>Blessings:<BR>    <BR>金玉满堂　Treasures Fill The Home  <BR>生意兴隆　Business Flourishes  <BR>岁岁平安　Peace All Year Round  <BR>恭喜发财　Wishing You Prosperity      <BR>和气生财　Harmony Brings Wealth <BR>心想事成　May All Your Wishes Come True  <BR>吉祥如意　Everything Goes Well  <BR>国泰平安　The Country Flourishes And People Live In Peace      <BR>招财进宝　Money And Treasures Will He Plentiful  <BR>一帆风顺　Wishing You Every Success  <BR>步步高升　Promoting To A Higher Position  <BR>出入平安　Safe Trip Wherever You Go  <BR><BR>祝你新的一年快乐幸福　Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!<BR>事业成功，家庭美满　Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!<BR><BR>Food names: <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'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 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>