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 | Celebrating Chinese New Year at Home
by Katherine Rockwell |
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From Adoption TODAY, December/January 2001 issue
The clock striking midnight on December 31, 2006, won’t necessarily signal the end of the New Year celebration, but rather, the beginning.
The Year of the Boar, the Chinese New Year, doesn’t officially begin until 23 days later, signaling the start of many celebrations. A time to renew familial ties, the holiday also presents an opportune time to educate children about Chinese culture.
If there are no Chinese New Year parades or celebrations nearby for the family to attend, observe the holiday at home by hosting a theme party complete with a parade, feast, and games. Besides, the event provides an excuse to end the traditional holiday season with a bang — literally — with celebratory fireworks!
Listed below are some ideas for a party, targeted towards the 3-to-8-year-old age group.
Before the party begins, create a festive New Year atmosphere. Deck out the tables with red tablecloths, red candles or red placemats. Embellish each place setting with a red cellophane-wrapped tangerine, almond cookies and red tissue-wrapped fortunes (in place of the traditional monetary gift). Set the mood with Chinese music, available from Chinasprout.com. The Web site also offers a plethora of decorations such as red “Good Fortune” lanterns, red silk fans, Lion Dance puppets and couplets.
Instead of just a party with purchased favors, why not give children the opportunity to exercise their creativity? Let them make the party favors and the parade items (all instructions are listed below). For starters, children can make Chinese New Year medallions and firecrackers.
On the day of the party, begin the festivities with the kids in a mini parade. Two children may lead the procession, carrying red banners printed with Chinese good luck phrases, such as “Prosperity” or “Happiness.” A dragon comprised of several children could follow, and children carrying red lanterns may bring up the rear. Variations can be made depending on the size of the group. For example, if there are not enough children to make up a dragon, they can opt for wearing dragon hats instead. To prepare for the parade, children will need to make a dragon costume, banners and red lanterns.
After the parade, offer a crash course on refining chopstick skills by letting the kids practice picking up cotton balls. Then, move on to food. If some children have never used chopsticks before, Rookie Chopsticks (from Tools and Techniques Ltd.) can be extremely useful, as the ends are connected to ensure easier handling of food.
Party food can range from finger foods such as almond cookies and fruit, to “chopstick foods” such as lo mein noodles. Take the opportunity to introduce new foods and explain the symbolism behind each dish. For example, serve a noodle dish and explain that it is eaten on New Year’s Day to promote longevity.
Conclude with a story session. There are many storybooks available with a Chinese New Year theme. Recommended works include Sam and the Lucky Money (by Karen Chinn); Celebrating Chinese New Year (by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith); Chinatown (by William Low); Happy New Year! Kung-Hsi Fa-Ts’Ai! (by Demi); and Chinese New Year Dragon (by Rachel Sing). All are available to order through Amazon.com or a local book retailer.
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