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

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

辞旧岁
bid farewell to the old year

扫房
spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

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!

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