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 comingyear.)

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