春節
The Spring Festival

農歷

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

元宵節
The Lantern Festival

過年
Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival

對聯
poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry

春聯
Spring Festival couplets

剪紙
paper-cuts

年畫
New Year paintings

買年貨
special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

敬酒
propose a toast

燈籠
lantern: a portable light

煙花
fireworks

爆竹
firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)

紅包

red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

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

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

戲曲
traditional opera

雜耍
variety show; vaudeville

燈謎
riddles written on lanterns

燈會
exhibit of lanterns

守歲
staying-up

拜年
pay New Year’s call; give New Year’s greetings; New Year’s visit

禁忌
taboo

去晦氣
get rid of the ill- fortune

祭祖宗
offer sacrifices to one’s ancestors

辭舊歲
bid farewell to the old year

掃房
spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

Treasures fill the home
金玉滿堂

Business flourishes
生意興隆

Peace all year round
歲歲平安

Wishing you prosperity
恭喜發財

Harmony brings wealth
和氣生財

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
國泰民安

Money and treasures will be plentiful
招財進寶

Wishing you every success
一帆風順

Promoting to a higher position
步步高升

Safe trip wherever you go
出入平安

 

祝你新的一年快樂幸福
Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year

事業成功，家庭美滿
Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!

年糕
Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake

團圓飯
family reunion dinner

年夜飯
the dinner on New Year’s Eve

餃子
Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli

湯圓
Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings

八寶飯
eight treasures rice pudding

糖果盤
candy tray:

什錦糖
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

糖蓮子
candied lotus seed – many descendents to come

糖藕
candied lotus root – fulfilling love relationship

紅棗
red dates – prosperity

花生糖
peanut candy – sweet