Chinese New Year

Our first Chinese New Year celebration was this weekend. My grandparents hosted a “Reunion Dinner” at their favorite restaurant, Delight 28. During the Chinese New Year season, families and friends get together before New Year’s for a “Reunion Dinner” to celebrate all accomplishments and good fortunes for the year.

The girls had a birthday party before dinner and got a remote control helicopter and airplane. Helicopters and airplanes aren’t toys two sisters usually get to play with so they were excited to open the boxes. Actually, I don’t know who was more excited, the girls or their dad.

Once they got the hang of it, it was so much fun.

For this celebration, we drank 2008 Montrose for dinner. Amazing. My brother let me choose and I specifically wanted a 2008 vintage because that was the year Princess was born.

We ate jai, a Buddhist vegetarian dish, to symbolize wealth and prosperity. This dish is usually eaten new year’s day because not eating meat is believed to enhance longevity.

We ate lobster complete with head and tail to symbolize wholeness. The lobster is also red which symbolizes prosperity and good luck.

We ate chinese fried chicken complete with head and tail to also symbolize wholeness.

We ate extra long long life noodles to symbolize longevity.

We ate clams in black bean sauce to symbolize prosperity because their shape resembles Chinese coin.

We ate peking pork chop because their red color symbolizes prosperity and good luck.

Princess really impressed us with her chop stick skills. I don’t think I used chopsticks properly until I was 16.

Our favorite waitress at the restaurant is Hoong. My grandmother comes to the restaurant almost every morning and Hoong really takes care of her. She does the little things like bring my grandmother extra napkins and toothpicks which my grandmother loves. My family really appreciates all of Hoong’s efforts.

When the food is coming to the table there isn’t much talking but as we get full, conversation starts. Here is my mom’s family.

Here is Princess with my brother and dad.

The meal always ends with sweets to represent a sweeter life. We ate oranges. This is the season for oranges so they were unbelievably sweet.

And sweet red bean soup. This is a family favorite, especially Baby.

My grandparents use to host this party at their home and cook everything from scratch. My grandfather use to own a restaurant and was the chef so as delicious as the food was at Delight 28, it was no comparison to his cooking. As they have gotten older, we are not able to eat their home cooked “Reunion Dinner”, but I’m grateful to share this time with them at their favorite restaurant.

To all your accomplishments and good fortune,
The Dumpling Mama

**Update January 31, 2015 – here is a guide to giving lucky envelopes during Chinese New Year.**

This is a follow-up to my blog post about how my family is going to celebrate Chinese New Year. Now that I have a family of my own, I want to create traditions for my girls to participate in and enjoy just like I did when I was growing up.

It is Chinese custom to give money is red envelopes (利是) as gifts during holidays and special occasions. The red color of the envelopes symbolizes good luck and prosperity, and the color of fire which is suppose to ward off evil spirits. The guidelines for giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year are a little different then other holidays. Here are the guidelines we will follow when giving red envelopes during Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year Red Envelope Giving Guidelines

Married adults give red envelopes to children and unmarried adults. If you are married with children also give to married adults without children as a token of good luck for children-to-come.
Give 2 red envelopes, one from the wife, one from the husband.
Each red envelope should contain the same amount.
The amount in each red envelope and sum of envelopes should not contain the number four, such as 4, 40, 400. The pronunciation of the word “four” (四) is similar word “death” (死), signifying bad luck.
The money should be new and crisp. Folded, wrinkled money is in bad taste.
Give cash, no checks, and definitely no coins.
Don’t sign the back of the red envelope.

Gift Amount Guidelines (as of 2012, inflation could effect amounts for later years)

Family members should not receive less then $10 (two 5’s). The amount depends on how close you are to the relative (niece you see at holidays and family gatherings vs. cousin’s daughter you met for the first time).
Children of your good friends should follow the same guidelines as described for family members. There will be many family gatherings during Chinese New Year. Try to get together with your friends to celebrate the New Year.
Doormen, hair dressers, other personal service professionals should not receive less then $6 (three 1’s in each envelope). The amount depends on how long you have been using their services, how often you see them in a year, how many people provide you the service (ex. doormen). Only give them red envelopes if you see them around the time of the holiday.

Happy Giving! xoxo, Chrissy