Chinese New Year Celebration Ideas!
In China, the New Year is a time of family get-togethers. Family members meet at one another's homes for visits and meals; most notably a feast on New Year's Eve’. Many early Chinese immigrants in the U.S. arrived without their families, and found a sense of community with other settlers from China instead. Today, many Chinese-American neighborhood associations host banquets and other New Year events. The Chinese New Year tradition is to reconcile, forget all grudges and sincerely wish peace and happiness for everyone.
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| Detailed monkey in lights in Crystals' high-end shopping mall. |
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| Buddha holds Sycee, a form of a gold ingot in China |
I took pictures of some amazingly beautiful decorations honoring the Year of the Fire Monkey last year while I was in Las Vegas for the KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Showcase) Jan. 17-22. I am sharing them with you as an inspiration. They certainly were a stimulus for me!
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| Lanterns hanging in the Bellagio Atrium |
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| Oranges bring protection & good luck in this arrangement |
I am not Chinese, but having studied Feng Shui, I enjoy a celebration each year. It’s really lots of fun, and I invite you to do the same.
Chinese New Year Celebration ideas:
- Invite family and friends for a celebratory dinner anytime between now and Feb. 11 when the Lantern Festival begins.
- Encourage every guest to dress in brightly colored attire.
- Clean your home thoroughly prior to your party, making sure to make your windows & mirrors spotless!
- Hang paper lanterns throughout your home.
- Purchase some fresh flowers to bring new Ch’i (energy) into your home.
- Surround yourself with fruit for a fruitful new year.
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Place money in red envelopes if you have children and give them these envelopes for a lucky new year.
- Serve plenty of good food, including many different dishes. If I'm pressed for time, I sometimes have Chinese take-out for this meal! Have enough for leftovers, as this will bring good luck for the whole year.
- Play music and games.
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| Auspicious colors are red and yellow in this beautiful arrangement |
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| This beautiful floral arrangement had red envelopes hanging off its upper branches. |
The Chinese Calendar:
The months of the Chinese calendar are calculated by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on New Year’s Eve’ or Lunar New Year and continue until the moon is brightest on the fourteenth day, the Lantern Festival.
The Origin of the Chinese Zodiac
In ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one. He announced that the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in Rooster years are Gloria Estefan, Steve Martin, Chris Carter, Michelle Pfeiffer, LeVar Burton, Deborah Harry, Dean Koontz, Nancy Kerrigan, Dolly Parton, Rudyard Kipling, Enrico Caruso, Groucho Marx, Ethel Merman, Stephen Foster, Eric Clapton, Joan Collins, Errol Flynn, Richard Harris, Steffi Graf, Larry King, Yoko Ono, Nancy Reagan, Benjamin Franklin, Johann Strauss, Catherine the Great, Duke of Marlborough, Peter Ustinov, Katharine Hepburn, Debra Kerr, William Faulkner, Marian Anderson, Prince Philip, Neil Young, Willie Nelson, George Segal, Joan Rivers, Carol Burnett, Van Morrison, Bette Midler, Richard Wagner and Goldie Hawn.
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| Another gorgeous interpretation of the ingot- |
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| This child's clothing is made from floral blooms |
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| Glass lanterns are truly stunning amongst the floral display |
The Lantern Festival
The lantern festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so this year it occurs on Feb. 11. Some lanterns displayed are amazing works of art, painted with zodiac signs, birds, flowers, animals, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon, which is typically up to 100 ft. long is made of silk, paper, and bamboo and elevated on the arms of many dancers moving in a snake-like line. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance almost always takes place on a weekend.
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| Dragon Dance will be performed again in Seattle on Feb. 13 this year |
If you live in/near Seattle, check out the many free consider activities the weekend of Sun., Jan. 29 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM: http://cidbia.org/events/lunar-new-year/
If you can't make this event, consider joining me for "Wok 'N' Roll" starting on Jan. 13 on Fridays through March. The International Dumpling Crawl, where you'll wind your way through Chinatown/International District while snacking on offerings from many Asian cultures costs $42.95 and includes access to the Wing Luke Museum. http://www.wingluke.org/tours
In conclusion:
I had intended to share predictions for the coming year for each Zodiac animal, but one of my most trusted sources has yet to mail me my pre-ordered "calendar." I will undoubtedly have it by next week, so come back and read about that on 2/5.
Have questions, comments or thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. If you’re interested in learning more about the feng shui of your home or office and how it’s affecting you, contact me for a consultation. Check out my website at http://TransformationsforInteriors.com. I’d love to assist you directly if you live in the Puget Sound region, or help you find a feng shui consultant in other regions of the country.
WAN SHI RU YI
(May everything go as you wish)
(May everything go as you wish)