傳統節日口語片語

過年 celebrate the spring festival

春聯 spring festival couplets

剪紙 paper-cuts

年畫 new year paintings

買年貨 do shopping for the spring festival ; do spring festival shopping

敬酒 propose a toast

燈籠 lantern

煙花 fireworks

爆竹 firecrackers

紅包 red packets

舞獅 lion dance

舞龍 dragon dance

戲曲 traditional opera

雜耍 variety show

燈謎 riddles written on lanterns

燈會 exhibit of lanterns

守歲 staying-up

拜年 pay new year give new years greetings; pay new years visit

禁忌 taboo

去晦氣 get rid of the ill- fortune

祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to ones ancestors

壓歲錢 gift money; money given to children as a lunar new year gift

culture note: in the old days, new years 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