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

Blessings:
Treasures fill the home 
金玉满堂
Business flourishes 
生意兴隆
Peace all year round 
岁岁平安
Wishing you prosperity 
恭喜发财
Harmony brings wealth 
和气生财
May all your wishes come true 
心想事成
Everything goes well 
吉祥如意
The country flourishes and people live in peace 
国泰民安 
Money and treasures will be plentiful 
招财进宝
Wishing you every success 
一帆风顺
Promoting to a higher position 
步步高升
Safe trip wherever you go 
出入平安

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