Earlier this week as I was thinking about a special meal to prepare to celebrate the start of Chinese New Year tomorrow, my mind wandered back to my childhood and the traditions I grew up with. With the start of each new year, I used to wonder if I had done a good job of passing on the important traditions to my own children who are American born Chinese just like me.
Now that my kids are older, I know even the smallest things my parents taught me that I’ve done as a mom have mattered. My 16 year old son understands why I’m constantly armed with our handheld vacuum a few days before the start of the new year. Cleaning the house is symbolic for driving away bad luck from the year before. He knows that cleaning at the start of the new year will sweep away any good luck that could come with it.
My 19 year old daughter started her first year of college this fall. She looked forward to opening our Wonton in a Million Year of the Rabbit advent calendar when she was home over winter break. Since she plans on doing something with friends at school to celebrate the start of the year, I sent Lunar New Year paper products from Target for their celebration.
If you’re looking to celebrate Chinese New Year in your home, here are some of the traditions I grew up with that are easy to do with your family to commemorate a new year. Please note that these are Chinese traditions that I grew up with as a Chinese American. Other Asian cultures celebrate Lunar New Year with different traditions.
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