Chinese Custom



guò
过
nián
年
 
 

have the Spring Festival

duì
对
lián
联
 
 

poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry

jiǎn
剪
zhǐ
纸
 
 

paper-cutting

nián
年
huà
画
 
 

New Year paintings

mǎi
买
nián
年
huò
货
 
 

special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping

jìng
敬
jǐu
酒
 
 

propose a toast

dēng
灯
lóng
笼
 
 

lantern: a portable light

yān
烟
huā
花
 
 

fireworks

bào
爆
zhú
竹
 
 

firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop

hóng
红
bāo
包
 
 

red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)

wǔ
舞
shī
狮
 
 

lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)

wǔ
舞
lóng
龙
 
 

dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)

xì
戏
qǔ
曲
 
 

traditional opera

zá
杂
shuǎ
耍
 
 

variety show; vaudeville

dēng
灯
mí
谜
 
 

riddles written on lanterns

dēng
灯
huì
会
 
 

exhibit of lanterns


bài
拜
nián
年
 
 

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

qù
去
huì
晦
qì
气
 
 

get rid of the ill-fortune

jì
祭
zǔ
祖
zōng
宗
 
 

offer sacrifices to one's ancestors

yā
压
suì
岁
qián
钱
 
 

gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift

sǎo
扫
fáng
房
 
 

spring cleaning; general house-cleaning


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