大话春节 春节知识串 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

灯谜 riddles written on lanterns

灯会 exhibit of lanterns

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
守岁 staying-up

拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit