春節 The Spring Festival
農歷 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
元宵節 The Lantern Festival
【Customs】：
過年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
對聯 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
春聯 Spring Festival couplets
剪紙 paper-cuts
買年貨 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
年畫 New Year paintings
敬酒 propose a toast
燈籠 lantern: a portable light
煙花 fireworks
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
紅包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
舞獅 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
舞龍 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
戲曲 traditional opera
雜耍 variety show; vaudeville
燈謎 riddles written on lanterns
燈會 exhibit of lanterns
守歲 staying-up
禁忌 taboo
拜年 pay New Year‘s call; give New Year‘s greetings; New Year‘s visit
去晦氣 get rid of the ill- fortune
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one‘s ancestors
壓歲錢 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
辭舊歲 bid farewell to the old year
掃房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
【Food names】：
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
團圓飯 family reunion dinner
年夜飯 the dinner on New Year‘s Eve
餃子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
八寶飯 eight treasures rice pudding
湯圓 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
糖果盤 candy tray:
什錦糖 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
紅棗 red dates - prosperity
糖蓮子 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 財源廣進
Business flourishes 事業興隆
Peace all year round 歲歲平安
Wishing you prosperity 恭喜發財
Harmony brings wealth 家和萬事興
May all your wishes come true 心想事成
Everything goes well 萬事如意
The country flourishes and people live in peace 國家富強、人民安康
Money and treasures will be plentiful 財源茂盛
Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position 事業有成、更上一層樓、蒸蒸日上
Safe trip wherever you go 一帆風順
Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 祝你新的一年快樂幸福
Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 事業成功，家庭美滿(闔家歡樂)
