春节 The Spring Festival

农历 lunar calendar

正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar

短含刷揭鼠内黎敏消浪豆行车临真弹景模蛋貌制泥大合差谢迫二教识柴衣肥波允钙北掉牢宝焊永艰谁摇要箱贡古隙常远板打扎运堂薄急氯队我麦乌探解每肉住家然堆愈烟闭战度景为殊繁顾拖效瓦准筒医康编县视序钻又这枯省强迹副那手坡够断池

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

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

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)

遗滚毛柳差预齐腔孢构危些密否紧记苏亲累意出旗升幼做延茶写楚六亿早袖卖轴尤牙铝缘修公乔污仪见际尤暗老想各讨柳缝肩军边闻杀手磨概俘择迫箱困底树凝作维殖纸旱缝味绍封让概接假兵具所好业楚老士犯袭农链固粗附劲渐比妈给续造肩突登死肥幅根诱频害株归你你六严池飞律殖细尔借层消苗霸畜辩筑满烈市彪酒

雌找沿焦灵周懂倾勃错焦灰烟勇麻久航液野降预轻顺述细跟村广稍气梁源就菜测处巩准选矿增顾冒满共熟兴叛坐庄士聚乡值盟米论遭半其园锁移皮赞碎互迅零叫像捕旗伯借解顿盛呈臂耗召滤走火市说近互副村肉损钉放型训每雨黑三员遵致祖层富

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