5 Ways To Celebrate Chinese New Year (Even if you’re not Chinese!)

<p>On the eve of <strong>Chinese New Year</strong>, Chinese families traditionally gather together for a family meal. Family members take the time to prepare the food together, including <strong>Chinese dumplings</strong>. It is a common practice to hide a coin in one of the dumplings. The meal is served at midnight, and whoever gets the dumpling with the coin supposedly will have good luck and fortune in the coming year. </p><p><br />You could take this opportunity to explain to your kids that you’re making the dumplings as a way to celebrate Chinese New Year, in solidarity with our Chinese and Filipino-Chinese countrymen. This is a wonderful way to introduce the concept of unity, and Chinese culture as well, to your children. Meal preparation time is also a good opportunity to teach your preschool-aged kids basic scientific activities like measuring, mixing, pouring, and the like. Find ways to make the evening fun and meaningful for everyone involved.</p><p><br />If you’re not up to making dumplings yourself, you and your family could just choose to have a nice meal together at a favorite Chinese restaurant and make a toas<sub>t for the a rockin’ <strong>Year of the Rabbit</strong> ahead!<br /></sub></p><p><sub> </sub></p><p><em>Photo from <a title="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/749052" target="_blank" href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/749052">sxc.hu</a></em> <br /><br /></p>

<p>In Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia, <strong>lion and dragon dance</strong> troupes are commonly seen performing in public places such as malls, parks, hotels and schools during <strong>Chinese New Year</strong>. Although this may not happen on such a grand scale here in the Philippines, lion and dragon dances are still very common during New Year celebrations, especially in the streets of Binondo. A good number of malls and hotels also have dragon and lion dance performances during this time. <br /></p><p>Take this opportunity to watch the amazing acrobatics of these dance groups with your family, and throw in a bit of learning at the same time by researching on the origin of the lion and dragon dances before you go, so you can explain its significance and history to your kids while you watch the performances. When you get home, you could also encourage the kids to make a lion or dragon dance presentation of their own, with improvised props from homemade materials.<br /></p><p><em>Photo from <a title="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/676728" target="_blank" href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/676728">geograph.org.uk</a></em><br /><br /></p>

<p>Or in this case, for most of us who can’t afford to do this on a whim, take a trip to Chinatown, which is located just off the <strong>Jones Bridge</strong> in <strong>Binondo</strong>, Manila. There are lots of interesting places to see there, whether or not it is Chinese New Year. But with the festivities going on, you’re sure to experience a greater taste of what it’s like to actually be in China, at least for a little bit. Something not to be missed in Binondo, especially for, but not limited to Catholic visitors, is a visit to the Binondo Church or the <strong>Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz</strong>. St. Lorenzo Ruiz was the first Filipino saint, who incidentally was actually Filipino-Chinese. <br /></p><p>Of course, tasting the Chinese cuisine famous among locals and tourists alike should also be in your to-do list. Try going to the <strong>Estero</strong>, along <strong>Ongpin St.</strong>, and taste their famous breaded pork chop. The owners of the renowned <strong>Eng Bee Tin</strong> also manage <strong>Mr. Ube Rice</strong> and<strong> Noodle House</strong>, which serves delicious Asian food like Lechon Macau Rice and Singaporean Laksa. What better way to celebrate Chinese New Year than to try something new?<br /></p><p> </p><p><em>Photo from <a title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/webzer/2774773276/" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/webzer/2774773276/">flickr.com</a></em> <br /></p>

<p>What would <strong>Chinese New Year </strong>in the Philippines be without the ever-popular <em><strong>tikoy</strong></em>? Known in Chinese as <strong><em>nian gao</em></strong>, this Chinese New Year pudding is most popular in Eastern China because its pronunciation sounds like Chinese for “a more prosperous year.” Other food usually served during this time are uncut noodles or <em>pancit</em>, which represent long life and longevity; <em>bakkwa</em> which is Chinese salty-sweet dried meat, sort of like jerky (I personally loved this as a child, even up to now!); taro cakes; mandarin oranges, which we usually refer to as <em>ponkan</em>; and fish, because its pronunciation in Chinese sounds like the Chinese word for “surpluses.” </p><p><em><br />Photo from <a target="_blank" title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29268439@N03/4364402467/" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29268439@N03/4364402467/">flickr.com</a></em> <br /><br /></p>

Last but not the least, since <strong>Chinese New Year</strong> is an important celebration for our Chinese friends and countrymen, we could share in their joy by visiting them if they have “open house” i.e. if their houses are open to relatives, friends and acquaintances who would like to drop by and extend their well wishes. Usually on occasions like these children receive the red envelopes or <em><strong>ang pao</strong></em>. Traditionally these red packets containing money are passed out from married couples or the elderly to unmarried juniors. Of course, the focus here for our friendly visits is not the ang pao but the camaraderie and friendship that is built because of them.<br /><em><br />Photo from <a title="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94509941@N00/336024941" target="_blank" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94509941@N00/336024941">flickr.com</a></em> <br /><br />