春節(jié)
The Spring Festival
農(nóng)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(jié)
The Lantern Festival
過年
Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
對聯(lián)
poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
春聯(lián)
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(fā)財(cái)
Harmony brings wealth
和氣生財(cái)
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(cái)進(jìn)寶
Wishing you every success
一帆風(fēng)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(yè)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(tuán)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