Greeting Season:
春节The 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
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.)
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
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; New Year's visit