Spring Festival Words

　　Greeting Season:

　　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

　　Customs:

　　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

　　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