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 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; 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 |
守岁 |
staying-up |
拜年 |
pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; 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 |
辞旧岁 |
bid farewell to the old year |
扫房 |
spring cleaning; general house-cleaning |
