The Chinese New Year shares our American (Valentine’s) holiday this year. As always, we will celebrate the CNY again this year with our children. We are having a large Chinese New Year celebration at our Chinese restaurant in town. They are designating one large back room to all those in attendance, which is up to over 35 people. Many of our International adoptive families in the area are invited, so it will be very fun.
So, what do we do?
Celebrate: It’s the new year and many new families have been formed by adoption. We celebrate all new family additions; biological and adoptive since we last gathered.
Play: The kids play, laugh, and have a ton of fun. We often have fun crafts for them to do at the tables.
Outfits: Many of us have beautiful Chinese silk outfits and other items that we get to wear. The array of colors and styles is so fun to see.
Pictures: It is always a “scrapbookers” dream to have a yearly event to photograph and journal.
Oranges and Dumplings: It is Chinese tradition to have oranges on the table for good fortune. Dumplings are also a food served at the Chinese New Year, and my kids LOVE dumplings. See my recipe for making Chinese Dumplings at home here.
Red Envelopes: Each year children receive “red envelopes” with coins in them to celebrate the new year. It is similar to Valentines cards and treats.
Decorations: We will often decorate, using traditional red and gold colors.
Learn: Our Chinese friends are so helpful and willing to continue to teach us about the Chinese culture. We learn a lot about traditions, families, and geographical locations/customs. Many of our kids take Chinese language lessons and have an opportunity to speak Mandarin.
Food: Of course, we eat plenty of great food and hot tea.
So there you have it; I wish we knew someone who did some traditional firecrackers or Dragon dances, etc. but we will have a fun time anyway.
If you live around the Hutchinson, MN area and would like to be included, send me an email. We’ve tried to contact as many people as possible, but fear we may have missed a few.
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