Celebrate Chinese New Year 2009

Host Bee on Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2009

This year the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on Monday, January 26th, and that date will usher in the Year of the Ox! The Chinese calendar is based upon a 12 year cycle with a different animal assigned to each year and it’s believed that people share characteristics with the animal of the year of their birth. So those born in the years 1901, 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, or 2009 are believed to be dependable, patient, hard working, strong and responsible! It’s also believed that what takes place on New Year’s day will affect the year ahead – so:

wear new shoes to start 2009 on the right foot
don’t speak loudly or scold your kids
avoid bad luck by making sure that you don’t drop your chopsticks

Share in the Festivities

Your family can share in the festivities of the Chinese New Year with some fun and easy ideas! Set your table with a red cloth and serve favorite Chinese dishes whether from your kitchen or a local restaurant. Paper lanterns, chopsticks, fortune cookies and “lucky money,” which is money in lucky red envelopes, will complete the scene! If you’d like to turn your dinner time celebration into a real party, there are some fun products that will add to the festive atmosphere! Oriental Trading offers:

Year of the Ox paper plates and napkins (Chinese New Year Party Set)
a very cute tissue paper Chinese lantern kit (Chinese New Year Lantern Kit)
“lucky money” red envelopes filled with candy (Chinese New Year Envelopes With Candy)
a set of 78 bamboo fortune telling sticks! (Fortune Chopsticks)