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:

金玉满堂　Treasures Fill The Home

生意兴隆　Business Flourishes

岁岁平安　Peace All Year Round

恭喜发财　Wishing You Prosperity

和气生财　Harmony Brings Wealth

心想事成　May All Your Wishes Come True

吉祥如意　Everything Goes Well

国泰平安　The Country Flourishes And People Live In Peace

招财进宝　Money And Treasures Will He Plentiful

一帆风顺　Wishing You Every Success

步步高升　Promoting To A Higher Position

出入平安　Safe Trip Wherever You Go

 

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

 

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