Greeting Season:
春節(jié) 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(jié) The Lantern Festival
Customs:
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