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 FestivalFood names:年糕 Nian-gao; rice 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祝你新的一年快乐幸福 Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!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辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
