Friday, February 4, 2011

The Year of the Rabbit



Ann Estelle has been waiting for you
to come visit for Chinese New Year.
She has lots of favorite things to share today.

(Click here if you missed Ann Estelle's M. E. Monday post.)

The Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year began on February 3 this year. This celebration is a time of family, friends, food, and fun. Red, an auspicious color, is the predominant color for the New Year celebration because it is a symbol of joy, virtue, truth, and sincerity.



 It is customary for family and friends to visit each other during the celebration of the Chinese New Year. Meals are shared and gifts of fruit or sweets are given when friends and family visit each other's homes. Mandarin oranges are one of the most popular fruits during this celebration.



They represent luck and good fortune, which is why Ann Estelle has brought gifts of mandarin oranges especially for your visit.



 Red envelopes called "Ang Pow" are given to children during the New Year celebrations.



It is customary for the red envelopes to contain money in even amounts with the number eight considered to be very lucky. You can imagine Ann Estelle's excitement when eight gold covered chocolate coins tumbled out of her red envelope. She squealed and clapped with glee.



 2011 is 

 "The Year of the Rabbit"



 Those born in the "Year of the Rabbit"
are said to be ambitious, articulate, and talented.



 Ann Estelle has prepared a little tasting plate.
~Chinese Orange Chicken and Fried Rice~



 It's both sweet and spicy.



 A nice compliment to a bowl of steaming Egg Drop Soup. Traditionally this soup is served at the end of the fifteen day celebration. The ribbons of eggs in this tasty soup will warm you on this cold winter day.



Go ahead, pick up your 

 chop sticks and have a bite.



 And don't forget to take along 

 an orange and a fortune cookie.



 Looks like Ann Estelle has 

 already opened her fortune cookie.




Gung Hay Fat Choy

Congratulations and be prosperous
in the Year of the Rabbit!

Click here for a look back at
last year's celebration for "The Year of the Tiger"

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

Joining


Beverly always said PINK is derived from RED
Hope she doesn't mind if join in today.





on

42 comments:

  1. Linda @ A La CarteFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    Love this. I love Chinese food. Cute table!! Year of the Rabbit!

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  2. Donna@Conghaile CottageFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:37 PM

    This is So Sweet and Yummy all wrapped up in a fortune cookie! I LOVE those rabbit knife rests, they are darling! And Thank you so much, to you and Little Ms Ann Estelle for this beautiful post!
    Hugs to you,
    Donna

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  3. The Quintessential MagpieFebruary 4, 2011 at 4:55 PM

    Happy Pink Saturday, Sarah! Loved Estelle... she's so cute, and I if I could eat cyber food, this would be it!

    Happy PS to you today. Still struggling with my computer...

    XO,

    Sheila :-0

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  4. Tammy@Beatrice BanksFebruary 4, 2011 at 5:10 PM

    This was an educational post for me. I didn't know all of that. Thanks for sharing! The chicken looks so delish! I'm majorly craving Chinese food now and my hubby just went to pick up pizza. bummer!
    Happy PS!
    Tammy

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  5. LynnFebruary 4, 2011 at 5:23 PM

    What a fun post Sarah! Lovin' the rabbit chop stick holders, and what the color red symbolizes, it's always been a favorite. It's nice to see so many people enjoying the Chinese new Year-Happy Weekend:@)

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  6. AnonymousFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:37 PM

    I read somewhere today where it is a lucky time too. yay! Bring luck on. Happy Pink Saturday Sarah. :)

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  7. Cindy AdkinsFebruary 4, 2011 at 6:43 PM

    Oh, this is just toooo precious, Sarah!!! And I love that little girl and, of course, the fortune cookie message...Have a beautiful weekend!
    XO

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  8. GraceFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:04 PM

    Happy Pink Saturday!! I love the tablescape and the food is making me so hungry! Grace

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  9. mrs. cFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    You are so clever, I just love to see what you post each day! Thank you for all this information...did you cook the chines yourself or is it takeout? I took Mary Engelbreit's mag until she stopped publication and gave all those darling paperdolls to my grand daughter. They are so cute! Have a great weekend.

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  10. UnknownFebruary 4, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    What a gorgeous Chinese New Year post. So adorable and that food makes my mouth water. I lived in Hong Kong for five years and this time of year was my favorite...fireworks, lanterns and delicious food and a trip to the flower market.

    Karen

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  11. UnknownFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    What a lovely share & lots of intriguing information about the holiday celebration, Sarah. Thank you for sharing.

    Have a beautiful PS weekend ~
    TTFN ~
    Hugs, Marydon

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  12. Cherry ChickFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Educational is right! Wow..Sarah..you truly are clever. I like how you had Ann Estelle give the "tour". Did you make all those chinese dishes for your post?? That's amazing.

    ´*•.¸(´*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
    ♥•.*.*.*.Cherry*.*.*.•♥
    ♥•.*.*.*.Chick.*.*.*.•♥
    ¸.•*´(¸.•*´♥´*•.¸)´*•.¸

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  13. bjFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:25 PM

    Oh, darlin'...I ALWAYS learn something really neat from you. I just love you to pieces.
    This table is soooo awesome and the food...oh, the food looks just delicious. What great photos.

    I've been really busy doing grandmother things and haven't visited as much as I like. Gotta get back on track. :))

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  14. JojoFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:45 PM

    Happy Pink Saturday! I loved the fortune cookie!

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  15. Country Wings in PhoenixFebruary 4, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    Happy Pink Saturday Sweetie...
    What a gorgeous share today. I loved finding out the information about the folks born in the year of the rabbit. (I am the rooster. It suits me, I always seem to have something to crow about. Ha! Ha!)

    I had never heard about the little red bags and the coins. I loved that story and share. It might be a nice tradition to start for my grands. They love history and learning new cultures and foods.

    The food looks SO yummy. I love orange chicken, it is my favorite. And I have always loved the suspense of opening a fortune cookie. Love the taste as well.

    Hope you have a beautiful weekend sweetie. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

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  16. Bargain Decorating with LaurieFebruary 4, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Sarah, you and Ann have done a fabulous job of creating a beautiful Chinese New Year celebration. I enjoyed the information you shared, since I know very little about the C.N.Y. celebration. I was not born in the year of the rabbit, and after reading the traits of those born in the Year of the Rabbit, I'm not surprised that it is not my year! I like the fortune in Ann's fortune cookie. thank you for linking this to Favorite Things. Hope you have a great weekend. laurie

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  17. xinexFebruary 4, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    Your Chinese feast looks so yummy. Ann Estelle is a cutie!...Christine

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  18. SoniaFebruary 4, 2011 at 10:06 PM

    Sarah,

    What a fabulous post about the year of the rabbit and Chinese celebration! Love to learn about festivals in other cultures...enjoyed your post and your vignettes!

    Miss Bloomers

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  19. La Table De NanaFebruary 5, 2011 at 8:26 AM

    Such a sweet :) post Sarah..the orange chicken looks delish..I have those red envelopes..a dear girl from Singapore gifted me with some for my little ones..
    your little rabbit chopstick rests are so cute too..

    Have a lovely weekend~

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  20. PondsideFebruary 5, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Thank you both for inviting us to such a festive table! Ann Estelle looks adorable in her Chinese dress, and the food had my mouth watering!

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  21. MaryFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:17 AM

    Ann Estelle could probably use a warm coat in Austin these days - wow, Texas snow/ice is looking bad around those parts! Bob flies through Dallas tomorrow on the way to LA - hope he makes it!

    We're just wet and cold but temps. stayed above freezing, just, the last couple of days so thankfully no snow or ice.

    Hunker down dear Sarah - be warm at home this cold Winter - happiest of weekends.
    Hugs - Mary

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  22. ManniFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:29 AM

    Happy Pink Saturday, Sarah : )
    Love Estelle!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog. It made my day :)
    hugs
    Manni

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  23. Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeFebruary 5, 2011 at 10:52 AM

    Great looking stuff! And the chicken looks delicious!

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  24. Jil~Say It With RosesFebruary 5, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    What a wonderful post.....Ann Estelle was very happy to go on this adventure....you can tell by the happy look on her sweet face! Your feast looks absolutely delicious....I love egg drop soup! Yummy!!!
    Jil
    xo

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  25. Amanda LeeFebruary 5, 2011 at 12:13 PM

    What a sweet post, so cleverly staged and photographed! Love it~
    ~Amanda

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  26. Kay EllenFebruary 5, 2011 at 1:36 PM

    what a cute post~~~
    Happy PS!!

    Have a wonderful weekend:)

    Having a give away over over at my blog~~vintage silver-plated creamer...

    stop by if you have a moment:))

    Kay Ellen

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  27. genieFebruary 5, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    I love Chinese food, and I adore Ann Estelle. The way you designed and set up this post is the best. I like everything about it. HPS.

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  28. genieFebruary 5, 2011 at 4:01 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  29. PamelaFebruary 5, 2011 at 5:18 PM

    Hi Sarah!!

    Thank you for visiting and becoming a follower of my blog!!
    I love this post you have just done. I am a big ME fan!!
    My son was born in the year of the Rabbit 11yrs ago!
    The food is making me hungry ...yum!!
    Pamela :)

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  30. Slice of PieFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:20 AM

    Great post ... food looks yummy! Thanks for sharing.

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  31. MarlisFebruary 6, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Love this post! I love learning new things. your rabbit chop stick holders are perfect! And the food looks so yummy. I so miss the Mary Englebreit magazines!

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  32. Ineke OriginalFebruary 6, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    Just love this!

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  33. HollyFebruary 6, 2011 at 3:12 PM

    What a fun post today! Love chinese food and Ann Estelle - don't you miss Mary Engelbreit's HOME Companion magazine? Thanks for bringing back some nice memories.
    Happy Pink Saturday!

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  34. The TablescaperFebruary 6, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    Great post. Love those rabbit chop stick rests!

    - The Tablescaper

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  35. Gabriela Delworth - Instructional DesignerFebruary 6, 2011 at 7:00 PM

    Happy Pink Saturday!


    Great post! Actually I should say that it is rather a delicious post.


    ~ Gabriela ~

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  36. Mid-Atlantic MarthaFebruary 6, 2011 at 8:03 PM

    Ann Estelle sure knows how to set a pretty table and whip up some great looking Chinese food!

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  37. Confessions of a Plate AddictFebruary 7, 2011 at 5:56 AM

    What a festive post, Sarah! And the food looks so yummy! Reading everyone's Chinese New Year post (yes...so far behind! Up to my elbows with little MR A)) is making me want Chinese food for lunch today! Happy week!...hugs...Debbie

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  38. BeverlyFebruary 7, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Happy Pink Saturday, Sarah. Of course Ann Estelle is always welcome at Pink Saturday. She is darling.

    And, thank you for sharing this post. It is wonderful. We had Egg Drop Soup for dinner last night.

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  39. Yellow Rose ArborFebruary 7, 2011 at 9:37 PM

    I have enjoyed browsing through your recent posts and catching up! I want to thank you for your recent comments to my blog while I was on blog break. I didn't have many followers leave comments, and I really appreciate yours! I almost quit blogging and decided not to because of the few encouragements I received from dear people!

    Katherine

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  40. Jany SchindlerFebruary 8, 2011 at 2:42 PM

    Oh it looks all wonderful.Enjoyed browsing your blog.

    ENJOY!
    Jany
    Don't forget to "Look in the nook".

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  41. Melanie {The Tiny Tudor}February 9, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    What a creative table setting... and I looove orange chicken!

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  42. DebbiedoosFebruary 3, 2014 at 8:51 AM

    Oh yummy, and so sweet! I just am loving learning about these traditions.

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Thank you to each of you who take the time to leave a comment. I read and appreciate each and every one and will respond to any questions. Your notes are the only way I know who has stopped in for a visit.