{"id":6629,"date":"2017-01-09T06:00:39","date_gmt":"2017-01-09T11:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.elfster.com\/?p=6629"},"modified":"2023-05-09T10:36:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:36:39","slug":"year-of-rooster-traditional-chinese-new-year-celebration-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elfster.com\/blog\/2017\/01\/09\/year-of-rooster-traditional-chinese-new-year-celebration-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"The Year of the Rooster: A Traditional Chinese New Year Celebration for 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chinese New Year, an exciting celebration | Image courtesy flick\u2019r user Andrew Smithson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A few years ago, my college pal Amanina, known as Amy to her American classmates, wasn\u2019t able to make it home to Malaysia for Chinese New Year. She was clearly bummed\u2014it\u2019s the most important day of her year, a celebration of family and a chance to make way for new luck and opportunities\u2014so I decided to bring home to her with a Chinese New Year-inspired surprise party.<\/p>\n

I started with very little knowledge about Chinese New Year, or its traditions, but I can confidently say I could now throw a mean traditional celebration\u2014anytime, anywhere. Amy was touched by the gesture, and it turned into one of my most memorable nights from my college days as well.<\/p>\n

2017\u2019s lunar new year, or \u201cSpring Festival,\u201d falls on January 28th, so start gathering family and friends together to prepare your own celebration. Take some inspiration from my impromptu party and learn how to make Chinese New Year festivities a new addition to your yearly celebrations, wherever you call home.<\/p>\n

Decor to Create Chinese-Inspired Ambiance<\/h4>\n
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2017, the Year of the Rooster | Image courtesy Etsy seller Thenobleowl<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Arms loaded full of red\u2014the luckiest color according to Chinese tradition\u2014I rushed home from the local Asian market to get started decorating. I knew the best way to surprise Amy would be a community room decked out in full Chinese celebratory fashion, instead of with the usual motivational posters and pinboards found on our dorm walls. <\/span><\/p>\n

I filled the room with a truly jaw-dropping amount of <\/span>red paper decor<\/span><\/a>, stringing up red lanterns in various sizes and making sure to hang one in front of the door\u2014a symbol of good fortune. I also roped my friends into making several long red paper chains to drape throughout the room, just like the strips of glued paper we made as kids at Christmas time, and I covered all of our dining surfaces with red table cloths we were able to borrow from the dining hall. <\/span><\/p>\n

As I stood on a ladder hanging lanterns, I ruminated on the zodiac symbolism of this holiday\u2014the Chinese calendar is based on a 12-year cycle, each year featuring an animal from rabbits to dragons to pigs. I made sure roosters, the symbol for 2017, were displayed prominently in our table decor to represent talent, confidence, and resourcefulness. Apparently, as I was born in a rooster year, 2017 will be particularly unlucky for me, as is the color red\u2014I was definitely a little extra cautious up on that ladder!<\/p>\n

Delicious Dishes to Savor<\/h4>\n

Symbolizing family closeness, the New Year\u2019s Eve dinner is considered the most important meal of the year. I was determined to honor this tradition for Amy, but because I can barely boil lo mein noodles, I picked up some traditionally prepared dishes at the Asian market for us to enjoy together:<\/span><\/p>\n