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
 
  年画 New Year paintings
 
  买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
 
  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
 
  拜年 pay New Year‘s call; give New Year‘s greetings; New Year‘s visit
 
  禁忌 taboo
 
  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: 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
 
  辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
 
  扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
 
 
  Blessing:
 
  Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
 
  Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
 
  Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
 
 
  祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
 
  事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
 
 
  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
 
  汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or
  spicy fillings
 
  八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
 
  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
 
  糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
 
  糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
 
  红枣 red dates - prosperity
 
  花生糖 peanut candy - sweet