Greeting Season:

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 poetic¹ 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, symbolize² fortune and wealth in the coming
year.)

舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel³ evil and bring good luck.)

舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

戏曲 traditional opera

杂耍 variety show; vaudeville⁴

灯谜 riddles⁵ 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 taboo⁶

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 copper⁷ coins strung together on a red string and symbolized⁸ the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations⁹ considered auspicious¹⁰ and given to represent luck and wealth

辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

Blessings¹¹:

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

国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace

招财进宝 Money and treasures will be plentiful¹²

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

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

 

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