Chinese New Year

We celebrated Chinese New Year 2013 at the Scott house...the Year of the Snake! While we do not necessarily take part in all the CNY festivities, we wanted to celebrate some aspects. Our family desires to honor Cora's birth culture and help her learn about her background in some ways. A few of our family members joined us on CNY Eve in feasting on an authentic Chinese meal. Typically on CNY, families will gather together and eat dumplings, soup, whole fish, chicken, etc. There are several traditions that go along with the celebration. See below. We had a fabulous time and I think Cora did too:). PS. My mom made homemade dumplings and Kyle's mom the gorgeous cookies. Can I say WOW??? Chinese New Year’s Traditions and Meanings Dumplings The belief is that the more dumplings you eat during the New Year’s celebrations, the more wealth you will acquire during the New Year. The saying when you eat a dumpling:” jaoww-tseye jnn-baoww “ A wish to make money, amass wealth Year of the Snake Since Snakes are born under the same Animal Sign, they often share likes and dislikes. Following are similar likes and dislikes of the Snake personality. Snakes Likes: • Color Preference: Red • Gems and Stones: Topaz, Jasper, Bloodstone • Suitable Gifts include: binoculars, Tarot cards, oils and lotions, stamp collection • Hobbies and Pastimes: Astrology, painting, touring, photography Snakes Dislikes: • Being interrupted, being mislead personally or professionally, failure. Traditions and Beliefs -The color red symbolizes luck, gold symbolizes wealth and happiness -Chinese New Year’s Eve feast with family. Food includes dumplings, fish, soup, precious eight rice pudding -Cleaning the house, getting a haircut, and bathing symbolize a fresh start, to “sweep away the bad luck” -Red Envelopes with money symbolize future prosperity and luck -Tangerines are left out to honor ancestors (usually at the family alter) -There is a parade and fireworks…the large dragon in the parade is a symbol of prosperity and luck and the dragon dances in an attempt to attract luck for the coming year.