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
禁忌　taboo
去晦气　get rid of the ill-fortune
祭祖宗　offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
压岁钱　gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift

Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's 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

辞旧岁　bid farewell to the old year
扫房　spring cleaning; general house-cleaning

Blessings:
   
金玉满堂　Treasures Fill The Home 
生意兴隆　Business Flourishes 
岁岁平安　Peace All Year Round 
恭喜发财　Wishing You Prosperity     
和气生财　Harmony Brings Wealth
心想事成　May All Your Wishes Come True 
吉祥如意　Everything Goes Well 
国泰平安　The Country Flourishes And People Live In Peace     
招财进宝　Money And Treasures Will He Plentiful 
一帆风顺　Wishing You Every Success 
步步高升　Promoting To A Higher Position 
出入平安　Safe Trip Wherever You Go 

祝你新的一年快乐幸福　Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
事业成功，家庭美满　Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!

Food names:

年糕　Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
团圆饭　family reunion dinner
年夜饭　the dinner on New Year's Eve
饺子　Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
汤圆　Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
八宝饭　eight treasures rice pudding
糖果盘　candy tray
什锦糖　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
糖莲子　candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
糖藕　candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
红枣　red dates - prosperity
花生糖　peanut candy - sweet