Sunday, January 30, 2011

A Look Back @ The Year of the Tiger

With the "Year of the Tiger" on its way out, join me for a look back at last year's Chinese New Year celebration here at HFTS. I'm joining Sunday Favorites with Chari @ Happy to Design , The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays, and Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP.




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Envelopes of red to celebrate Chinese New Year


The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year began on February 14 this year. Red, an auspicious color, is the predominant color for the New Year celebration because it is a symbol of joy, virtue, truth, and sincerity. The red envelopes called "Ang Pow" are given out during the New Year celebrations. The elderly and married couples give the red envelopes to the children and single young adults. It is customary for the red envelopes to contain money. The amount in the envelopes should be an even number, and the number eight, which is associated with wealth, is considered to be very lucky. These red envelopes were filled with chocolate coins covered in gold foil.




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Exchanging small gifts of food or

sweets with friends and relatives


During the celebration of the Chinese New Year the practice of "New Year Visits" takes place. Families and friends visit one another, and in addition to the envelopes of red, gifts of fruit and some various types of sweets are given when friends and family visit each other's homes. Mandarin oranges are one of our favorite fruits here at HFTS this time of year. They are also one of the most popular fruits during this celebration. These fruits represent luck and good fortune.




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Egg Drop Soup


The Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring Festival, as this is a time for Chinese families to clean their homes (as in spring cleaning) and to welcome the coming season of spring. Toward the end of the fifteen day celebration it is tradition to serve Egg Drop Soup. The ribbons of eggs in this tasty soup represent fertility.




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Engaging



2010 is "The Year of the Tiger". Those born in the "Year of the Tiger" are said to be engaging, lucky, and brave.




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Entertaining to celebrate the 

  Year of the Tiger














































Gung Hay Fat Choy

Congratulations and be prosperous!

Check back this weekend for a "Year of the Rabbit" celebration.

You can read about the Chinese New Year celebration in detail here at Wikipedia.

Be sure to stop by Sunday Favorites with Chari @ Happy to Design, The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays, and Tablescape Thursday @ BNOTP.

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Sarah
Sarah

The summer we married, my husband was in graduate school, and I was employed as a teacher. We took a portion of our savings that summer and purchased a sailboat. We christened our Catalina 22, “Hyacinths For The Soul” after Saadi’s poem. Our "Hyacinths" provided years of pleasure.

15 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:04 AM

    :)

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  2. The Quintessential MagpieJanuary 30, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    Sarah, this is a neat post, and it looks like a wonderful celebration. I adore anything to do with China. Thanks.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  3. MaryJanuary 30, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    I love all your items elebrating the year with the tiger. I wouldn't mind treating myself to bowl of your delicious looking egg drop soup!

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  4. LynnJanuary 30, 2011 at 5:17 AM

    Thanks for the fun post Sarah! Fun traditions and your setting looks great! Looking forward to the rabbit:@)

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  5. Donna@Conghaile CottageJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    Beautiful Post "As Always" Sarah! AND I must say your egg drop soup looks delicious! I think it would be a great "Warmer Upper Soup" for this Cold Winter Day too!
    "Gung Hee Fat Choi" to you too...
    Hugs to you,
    Donna

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  6. Lori @ Dining DelightJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:57 AM

    Thanks for teaching us various facts about the Chinese New Year - very interesting and great pics to go along with it. I would love to get a "fortune" that says I should eat dessert!!!

    DD

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  7. Confessions of a Plate AddictJanuary 30, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Such a festive tablescape, Sarah! And your soup looks wonderful! I hope you are having a great weekend! Here, we are expecting temps near 70...ahhh!...hugs...Debbie

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  8. Chari at Happy To DesignJanuary 30, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    Hi Sarah...

    What a lovely post, my friend! Thank you so much for sharing it with us for the Sunday Favorites repost party! I really didn't know very much about the Chinese New Year. Thanks for sharing a few facts, etc. about it...very interesting! I loved looking at all of your pretties and your beautiful tables! Mmmm...egg drop soup sounds sooo good right now!

    Have a super Sunday, Sarah!
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  9. PondsideJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:08 PM

    We usually go into town to watch the parades for New Year and to enjoy Dim Sum. I was born in the year of the Dragon, but my daughter was born in a Rabbit year, so we'll celebrate!

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  10. The TablescaperJanuary 30, 2011 at 8:57 PM

    Sarah:

    What an amazing post. Full of color, life AND information.

    - The Tablescaper

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  11. Michelle@ A Full CottageJanuary 31, 2011 at 5:09 AM

    i love this what a cool idea! My boys(ages 10 and 8) are so fasinated with Chinese culture and have recently gotten a book out of the library about the Chinese New Year! I am so going to copy your idea and do this for them for this year. On a side note we ALWAYS make homemade Chinese food for New Year's Eve.
    Your photos are just amazing. Thanks so much for sharing.

    :) Michelle

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  12. Pattie @ Olla-PodridaJanuary 31, 2011 at 10:29 PM

    I love all of your Asian goodies. I think the Asian tablescape is one of my favorites to create as there are so many different directions in which to head, and the colors are so festive.

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  13. Bargain Decorating with LaurieFebruary 1, 2011 at 7:59 PM

    Sarah, you've been a busy blogger since I last visited! Love all of your "year of the tiger" pictures. laurie

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  14. ☺lani☺February 1, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    Nice to remember, Year of the Tiger is almost over, here comes Year of the Rabbit for chinese people! Have a nice day! I love your egg drop , looks tempting :)

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  15. Pattie @ Olla-PodridaFebruary 3, 2011 at 11:26 AM

    BEAUTIFUL setting, and now, I want some egg drop soup!

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