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


Blessings:

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 plentiful 
一帆风顺Wishing you every success 
步步高升Promoting to a higher position 
出入平安Safe trip wherver 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 reunio 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