过年 celebrate the spring festival 

春联 spring festival couplets

剪纸 paper-cuts

年画 new year paintings

买年货 do shopping for the spring festival ; do spring festival shopping

敬酒 propose a toast

灯笼 lantern

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

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; pay 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

culture note: in the old days, new year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth

辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year

扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

年糕 nian-gao; rise cake; new year cake

团圆饭 family reunion dinner

年夜饭 the dinner on new year's eve

饺子 jiao-zi; chinese meat ravioli