Monday, January 23, 2012

Chinese New Year Blog Hop


Ni hao and welcome to the Chines New Year Blog Hop!  This hop is in honor of Guan, the little boy April's family is adopting from Taiwan.  To celebrate his culture, we want to share some Chinese-inspired projects with you!
  • If you arrived here from Amy's blog then you are in the right place!  If you just joined us, please go back to April's blog at www.curlsandgrins.blogspot.com to see everyone's amazing creativity!
    We have some great blog candy to offer from April Nourse and PSA Essentials.  To be eligible, you must simply comment on each blog on each day's post.  We'd love for you to become a follower of each of our blogs too.
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 Gung Hay Fat Choy means "Best wishes and Congratulations

Welcome back to our celebration. Yesterday I showed how we decorated and the food we prepare and eat but today I will continue our celebration.

When we are done eating, everyone is given a fortune cookie to open, read their fortune and eat.

Here is some Wikipedia history of the fortune cookie...Fortune cookies are often served as a dessert in Chinese restaurants in the United States and some other countries, but are absent in China. The exact provenance of fortune cookies is unclear, though various immigrant groups in California claim to have popularized them in the early 20th century, basing their recipe on a traditional Japanese cracker. Fortune cookies have been summarized as being "introduced by the Japanese, popularized by the Chinese, but ultimately ... consumed by Americans."

 Once the cookies have been consumed, the elder, which was me because daddy was away on business, hands out red envelopes called hong bao or lai see to the children. Each pack has money in it, usually a dollar at our house. The red envelope represents good luck. The amount of money should end in an even number to bring good luck but should never have a four in it such as 40 cents because the number 4's pronunciation is similar to the word pronunciation for death.

 I used Inkscape to make the red envelopes for the children and the children saw what I was making and asked if they could decorate them. The lines and stars represent firecrackers being lit off.
 Finally, we end the night by handing out candy filled poppers. It's illegal to light off fireworks in Tucson so we stick to the poppers. I used the New Years Party file from SVG attic to make my poppers.
Then the children and I curl up in a chair to read a book dealing with something Chinese. The kid's favorite book is "The Seven Chinese Sisters."

Since it is the Year of the Dragon, I had to make this card because I love this stamp and have been wanting to use it since I bought it from a friend.
Last bit of info...The Drangon Dance is done to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

Thank you so much for celebrating with us this year. I love to have company visit and share in our traditions and it's always fun to break out of the mold and share a tradition that is of another culture.

Hugs from Lorby's World

16 comments:

  1. Jearise, what a ton of information packed into your post -- I will remember always to never put 40 cents in my red envelopes :) I so enjoyed reading about your traditions and I LOVE the dragon stamp on your card -- I see why you couldn't wait to use it!! :)

    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com

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  2. Thanks for the all the info and your projects are outstanding I love the dragon card, of course since I collect then anything to do with dragons would be my favorite.
    Debbie
    http://craftywizard.blogspot.com

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  3. Everything is beautiful and I really enjoyed learning about another's traditions.
    janiceaeschliman.blogspot.com

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  4. Love you red envelopes and candy poppers! You did such a great job and I love learning about Chinese traditions! :)

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  5. Great Information and Projects!!! Love the firework card!! TFS!!!

    http://ibecirclrd.blogspot.com
    ilovetonkinese2 at hotmail dot com
    Rexann♥

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  6. Wow So Very Beautiful your colors and papers are perfect and i love the Dragon its Amazing. Love Love all. thanks for sharing
    www.anita-craft-corner.blogspot.com

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  7. Your projects are fabulous and I have really enjoyed learning about the traditions, Thanks!!
    Cindy
    cindilu2u at gmail dot com

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  8. Such cute ideas ... thanks for sharing

    Stephanie, www.purplelionpaper.com

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  9. I love the history lesson on the customs of the Chinese New Year, fortune cookie and red envelope. I even shared it with my Mom what I have been learning. I love your Envelopes, poppers, and card! They are very pretty! . I love that you let the kids help decorate the envelopes. That made them extra special. Thanks for sharing. Edwina Brown edwinabrown@comcast.net

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  10. This looks like so much fun! I really enjoyed reading your post! Thanks for all of the info.

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  11. Wow, that dragon is amazing...LOVE your card!

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  12. Your projects are nice. Your dragon is stuniing.
    KristaInMN at gmail dot com

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  13. That dragon rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love all your projects ty for sharing :)

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  14. Thanks for all of the info. The favors are such fun, too. :)

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  15. Jearise -- thank you for sharing your family's wonderful traditions!!! I always love to hop with you or follow your blog with the beautiful projects not to mention your creativity!!!
    Hugs, Love, and Pixie Dust
    Lynne

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  16. Very creative ... it is fun doing hops with you
    Shannon, www.purplelionpaper

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Thank you so much for visiting Lorby's World today and leaving a comment.