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  

鼠年: Year of the Rat

牛年: Year of the Ox

虎年: Year of the Tiger

兔年: Year of the Rabbit

龙年: Year of the Dragon

蛇年: Year of the Snake

马年: Year of the Horse

羊年: Year of the Sheep

猴年: Year of the Monkey

鸡年: Year of the Rooster

狗年: Year of the Dog

猪年: Year of the Boar

Concept

Chinese zodiac: 生肖

It derives from the observation of the 12-year period that it requires for the planet Jupiter (木星) to complete its orbit. Chinese associate each year with an animal and believe it help indicate fortune and the course of events. "Chinese zodiac" refers to the collective concept. (生肖总称). For example: The Chinese zodiac is used to help people predict their fate. To refer to each animal in the zodiac, you can say "Chinese zodiac animal sign"(属相，指具体属相). For example: "The ox is one of the Chinese zodiac animal signs.". Or you can simply put it as "Chinese animal sign".
 
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  
 
国泰民安 The country flourishes and people live in peace  
    
招财进宝 Money and treasures will be 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