春节 The 节必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

　　Food names:

　　年糕 Nian-gao; rice 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

　　汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings

　　八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding

　　糖果盘 candy tray

　　什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune

　　蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health

　　西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity

　　金桔 cumquat - prosperity

　　糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come

　　糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship

　　红枣 red dates - prosperity

　　花生糖 peanut candy - sweet

　　祝你新的一年快乐幸福 Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!

　　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。