过年 celebrate the spring festival
春联 spring festival couplets
剪纸 paper-cuts
年画 new year paintings
买年货 do shopping for the spring festival ; do spring festival shopping
敬酒 propose a toast
灯笼 lantern
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
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; pay 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
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