Glossary of Chinese New Year Folk Customs (Chinese-English with Pinyin)

Festivals & Timeline

1. 腊八节 Làbājié — Laba Festival (the 8th day of the 12th lunar month)

2. 小年 Xiǎonián — Little New Year

3. 除夕 Chúxī — Chinese New Year's Eve

4. 春节 Chūnjié — Spring Festival / Chinese New Year

5. 破五 Pòwǔ — Breaking the Fifth Day (5th day of 1st lunar month)

6. 人日 Rénrì — Human Day (7th day of 1st lunar month)

7. 元宵节 Yuánxiāojié — Lantern Festival

Customs & Activities

1. 扫尘 Sǎochén — Year-end dust cleaning

2. 祭灶 Jìzào — Worshiping the Kitchen God

3. 贴春联 Tiē chūnlián — Pasting Spring Festival couplets

4. 贴福字 Tiē fúzì — Pasting the character “Fu” (blessing)

5. 守岁 Shǒusuì — Staying up late on New Year's Eve

6. 拜年 Bàinián — Paying New Year visits / Greeting the New Year

7. 压岁钱 Yāsuìqián — Lucky money / New Year red envelope money

8. 放鞭炮 Fàng biānpào — Setting off firecrackers

9. 舞龙舞狮 Wǔlóng wǔshī — Dragon dance and lion dance

10. 逛庙会 Guàng miàohuì — Visiting temple fairs

11. 迎财神 Yíng cáishén — Welcoming the God of Wealth

12. 闹元宵 Nào Yuánxiāo — Celebrating the Lantern Festival

13. 回娘家 Huí niángjiā — Married daughter visiting her parents’ home

14. 挂灯笼 Guà dēnglóng — Hanging red lanterns

15. 祭祖 Jìzǔ — Ancestor worship

Decorations & Objects

1. 春联 Chūnlián — Spring Festival couplets

2. 门神 Ménshén — Door gods

3. 窗花 Chuānghuā — Window paper-cuts

4. 年画 Niánhuà — New Year paintings

5. 红包 Hóngbāo — Red envelope / Hongbao

6. 中国结 Zhōngguójié — Chinese knot

7. 红灯笼 Hóng dēnglóng — Red lantern

8. 烟花 Yānhuā — Fireworks

Traditional Food

1. 腊八粥 Làbāzhōu — Laba porridge

2. 年糕 Niángāo — New Year cake (rice cake)

3. 饺子 Jiǎozi — Jiaozi / Chinese dumplings

4. 汤圆 Tāngyuán — Tangyuan /sweet rice dumplings

5. 年夜饭 Niányèfàn — New Year's Eve family reunion dinner, also known as the reunion dinner

6. 鱼 Yú — Fish (symbolizes surplus)

7. 丸子 Wánzi — Meatballs /vegetable balls

8. 长面 Chángmiàn — Longevity noodles

Blessings & Etiquette

1. 辞旧迎新 Cíjiù Yíngxīn — Ring out the old year, ring in the new

2. 阖家团圆 Héjiā Tuányuán — Family reunion

3. 五福临门 Wǔfú Línmén — Five blessings descend upon the home

4. 恭喜发财 Gōngxǐ Fācái — Wishing you prosperity

5. 万事如意 Wànshì Rúyì — May everything go as you wish

6. 大吉大利 Dàjí Dàlì — Great luck and prosperity

7. 团圆饭 Tuányuánfàn — Reunion dinner

8. 走亲访友 Zǒuqīn Fǎngyǒu — Visiting relatives and friends