Chinese New Year Celebration

Chinese New Year is a time for being thankful for the past year, good wishes for the upcoming year, and most of all a reason to celebrate!

With delicate and festive decorations, the delicious cuisine of China, and that stunning red color for good luck, Chinese New Year is a great reason to throw a party. This year, 2008, is the year of the Rat, and the Chinese New Year celebration begins on Feb. 7.

Chinese New Year Origins

Chinese New Year is a 15-day celebration, beginning with the new moon and ending on the full moon. It’s traditionally a family celebration, to honor the gods for good fortune in the past year and welcome in a new year of success. The last day of the celebration is called the Lantern Festival, a day for lovers, which is celebrated with lantern displays and parades.

More about the origins and customs of Chinese New Year can be found on the Chinese Fortune Calendar page.

Chinese New Year Party Decorations

Decorate for your Chinese New Year party with lots and lots of traditional bright red, which symbolizes good luck. Carry out the New Year tradition of covering windows and doors with red paper and write poetic sayings similar to what are found in fortune cookies. Let your guests help you write good wishes and fortunes, and you’ve got a fun party activity.

Fill vases with cherry blossom branches or float lotus blossoms in a shallow glass bowl for a beautiful centerpiece.

Paper lanterns, fans, dragon decorations and more Chinese New Year party supplies can be found at online resources such as Plum Party, Sensible Parties, Party Cheap and Oriental Trading.


Food for Chinese New Year

Traditional foods to bring good luck include jai, which has ingredients to bring a year of good fortune, dumplings for wealth, lettuce for prosperity, noodles for longevity, seaweed for good luck, and more.

Serve homemade dumplings, not hard to make, using instructions on this Food Network Video.  Potstickers are a fun party food, served with dipping sauces.

More recipe ideas can be found on the Food Network Web site.

Vegetable Shrimp Egg Rolls

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 cups finely shredded green cabbage
• 2 cups coarsely grated carrots
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh ginger
• 4 scallions, sliced thin
• 8 ounces cooked shrimp (shelled and deveined), coarsely chopped
• ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 12 egg roll wrappers
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1½ cups vegetable oil

In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons of oil. Add cabbage and carrots; cook over medium-high heat until cabbage is wilted and bright green, about 4 minutes. Stir in soy sauce. Add garlic and ginger and cook for 1 minute, stirring. Remove from heat and stir in scallions, shrimp and cilantro. Transfer to a bowl and let cool to room temperature. To stuff egg roll wrappers, lay one in front of you, turned so it’s a diamond shape. Place 1/3 cup filling across the bottom of the wrapper, about 1 inch from the bottom, and roll up, starting at the bottom and folding in the sides as you go. Brush egg over exposed edges with a pastry brush. Set aside, seam-side down, and cover with a slightly damp cloth to keep from drying out. Repeat with remaining egg roll wrappers. Heat 1½ cups oil in a large skillet until tiny bubbles begin to form on top. Place 3-4 egg rolls at a time in the hot oil and cook for 2-2½ minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on a paper towel. Serve with soy sauce, duck sauce and hot mustard.

Make Your Own Fortune Cookies

You won’t believe how simple it is to make your own fortune cookies. For your Chinese New Year party, personalize and localize your own made-up fortunes, hand write them onto tiny slips of paper and put them in fortune cookies you’ve made yourself.

Chinese New Year for Kids

Chinese New Year is a fantastic party idea for kids. Kids Party Fun has ideas for decorations, invitations, games and activities.