過年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 對聯(lián) poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 春聯(lián) Spring Festival couplets 剪紙 paper-cuts 年畫 New Year paintings 買年貨 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 敬酒 propose a toast 燈籠 lantern: a portable light 燈會(huì) exhibit of lanterns 守歲 staying-up 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 禁忌 taboo 去晦氣 get rid of the ill- fortune 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 壓歲錢 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 辭舊歲 bid farewell to the old year 掃房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 八寶飯 eight treasures rice pudding 糖果盤 candy tray 什錦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 糖蓮子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 紅棗 red dates - prosperity 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet