中国春节常用词语的英语表达

[中国猫]

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