Words 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

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 plentiful¹¹
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

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