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

 

    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

 

    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