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Chinese New Year
2010 - Year of the Tiger
Party Ideas by Party
Consultant Michelle Hylton Updated:
08/31/2010
www.PartyShelf.com
Party Plan has multiple
vendors on this page.
Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon
on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days
later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival,
which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying
lanterns in a parade.
Click
here to view how the 15 days are
celebrated.
Year of the White Tiger -
Check out
your Chinese Zodiac and more fun things.
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Traditions:
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Wear Red
— Considered a bright, happy color, red is believed to bring
the wearer a sunny and bright future.
-
Spread Good
Fortune — Give red envelopes
(“hong bao”) containing a crisp dollar bill to children,
unmarried friends, and close friends for good luck.
-
Decorate with
Meaning — Prepare an
octagonal tray full of dried fruits, nuts and sweets called
a “Chyuhn-haap” or “tray of togetherness,” which symbolizes
a variety of well wishes for the coming year. Here are
some options and their meanings:
- Candied melon -
growth and good health
- Red melon seed - dyed
red to symbolize joy,happiness, truth and sincerity
- Lychee nut - strong
family relationships
- Cumquat - prosperity
(gold)
- Coconut -
togetherness
- Peanuts - long life
- Longnan - many good
sons
- Lotus seed - many
children
Use red and gold to symbolize
wealth and good luck and choose floral arrangements that
include plum blossom,
peach blossom, chrysanthemums and water lilies.
-
Open Up
— On the stroke of midnight, open every door and window in
the house to allow the old year out and the New Year in.
Blooming Beauty Decorate the house with blooming plants
to represent
new growth an wealth.
-
Fire Away
— Set off firecrackers on New Year’s Eve to send off the old
year and welcome in the new.
-
Clean House
— Before New Year’s Day, the entire house should be cleaned
to sweep away
bad luck from the year that's ending. All brooms and
dustpans must be put away before New Year's Eve. If you
clean on New Year’s Day, you may sweep out your family’s
good fortune!
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No Swearing
— Negative words, death and dying are not to be mentioned,
as they could bring bad luck.
-
Give a Little-Children,
close friends, and family are given “Hong Bao,” little red
envelopes on New Year’s Day. They have crisp new bills
inside for good fortune. Many people pay off debts before
the New Year, too.
-
Cutting Up
— Get a haircut before the New Year, not during, and be sure
to wear your new clothes.
-
Lighting Up
— Lights should be kept on overnight on New Year’s Eve.
-
Meet and Greet
— It’s customary to visit close friends and relatives on the
New Year.
-
Catch of the
Day — On the last day of New
Year, some single people throw apples (men) or oranges
(women) into a river or ocean to wish for a good partner.
Ideas for Celebrating:
- Host a Chinese potluck or
take-out and invite your friends and family over to
celebrate the Chinese New Year with you.
- If there is a large
Chinese community in your town or city, check to see what
will be going on. Often dragon dances, parades and other
festivities are scheduled and open to the public. Check your
local listings or contact the local Chinese cultural centre
or cultural association. The bright and open celebrations
are not to be missed!
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White Tiger Gifts:
Links:
Year of
the Tiger Net
New Lunar Year Celebration Photos
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