Spring Festival Words 　　

    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 　　

    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 　　

    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) 　　

    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