Chinese New Year is one of the most important and the longest holidays in Chinese culture. Beginning the first day of the first month according to the Chinese calendar, it’s also known as Lunar New Year and lasts for two weeks. While Chinese New Year isn’t an official holiday in Canada or the United States, Chinese communities still hold large celebrations.
A few years ago, Kevin decided that he wanted to know more about Chinese culture and so for his birthday, we threw a Chinese New Year themed party and attended to the Spring Festival in Vancouver. Despite the fact that it poured rain the whole day, we had an amazing time!
Held in Chinatown in Vancouver every year, we watched many lion dances weave their way through the street during the parade. Shopkeepers had lettuce hanging from their doorway, with red envelopes of money tucked inside. First, firecrackers are set off in front of the lion to scare away evil spirits that might want to take the money, then the lion ‘eats’ the lettuce, throwing some this way and that.
We explored many Chinese shops, including this one that sold dried gecko that one would use for medicinal purposes. You boil the gecko in water to make a broth to drink. Kevin wasn’t so sure about that idea. It was so much fun and educational to look through the stores at all the different products, many of which we’d never seen before.
Tucked away in a tiny restaurant, we dined on BBQ duck and sticky rice and I discovered that I am not so good with chopsticks. Kevin had a great time laughing at me!
You don’t have to go anywhere to have your own Chinese New Year celebrations, hold a themed dinner at home!
Wear red - Bright and cheery, red is considered to be a color that brings good luck and wards off bad spirits.
Decorations - Paper lanterns are easy to make and lots of fun. You can string them from the ceiling or around the house with balloons for a festive feel. A bowl of oranges are not only a good decoration because oranges symbolize good luck and prosperity, but are a delicious, healthy snack. Flowers and signs with the Chinese word Fu on them are also popular as it means luck and happiness.
Traditions - During Chinese New Year, elders give young and unmarried people red envelopes that contain lai see, or a small amount of money. Read Dragon books with the kids and make Chinese crafts (like this dragon puppet), as 2012 is the year of the dragon.
Make Chinese food - You could order out, or whip up a few easy Asian foods that your kids will love, including 5 spice chicken, rice, or soba noodle salad. Go with whatever your kids will love and eat. Now is a great time to try out chopsticks, but have forks nearby just in case they are a challenge. Offer a bowl of fortune cookies for dessert and toast to your good fortune in the coming year!
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