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