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

    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 comingyear.)

    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