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
Food names:
年糕 Nian-gao; rice 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
湯圓 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
八寶飯 eight treasures rice pudding
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
糖蓮子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
紅棗 red dates - prosperity
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet
祝你新的一年快樂幸福 Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
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
年畫 New Year paintings
買年貨 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
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
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
禁忌 taboo
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
辭舊歲 bid farewell to the old year
掃房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
