Spring Festival 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
Blessing:
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position 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
红枣red dates - prosperity
花生糖peanut candy - sweet
