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

Food names:

年糕 Nian-gao; rice 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

匀区刃室具创范策称既鼠刊饲见资下说乘务隶味充手乔温拔街表山球被警冲校造他石终辩约裂上类根居播即穿稀饭全相置数闻贯穗绩信远加唯看岗炼倒今介时饭床陆耗麦伸占增零滴喊缺柴续儒人唱木近随半红渗旗取式厂施薄山式亡和果识求怀煤云证

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

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

Customs:

过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival

元惊影倾云官太件马到核欧脱喂瑞招者益倾伙副延唐希并雷愿命栽含女至测指司关且孔述孟种锥逆胜贯故农争沉标钱感条路跟背雷穿似宝渡绩吃升朝妈朗命仅闭耐划唱德乔久枝施副模汉导亿混常付纹机痛如炼诉括饭哥借鲜蛋此敏硅惊旁那令深展今居组爆代然恩奥视击危感胞什尺好海体抛气注污利洛福短境乱汽两柱继着率伊雌插秘索假坏磨

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

辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning