The Mom I Want to Be

The Chinese New Year is a festival quiet with the hope of good fortune, yet booming with the spectacle of exploding firecrackers and dancing dragons. It is marked not only by number but also by animal. According to Chinese legend, Buddha invited all the creatures in his kingdom to appear before him. The 12 animals who completed the journey the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig were each honored for their presence with rotating names of the year:

 

2009 –  Ox (jan 26)

2010 –  Tiger (feb 14)

2011 –  Rabbit  (feb 3)

2012 –  Dragon (jan 23)

 

People prepare for the holiday by cleaning their homes, paying their debts, buying new clothing, and cooking enormous feasts. Many individuals spiritually and physically sweep away all traces of bad luck from the previous year.

 

Parents encourage children to stay awake as long as their eyes will remain open. Legend says that the longer children battle sleep, the longer their parents will live. At midnight, firecrackers, paper-dragon dances, parades, and red clothing commemorate the legend of Nain, a mythical beast who terrorized villagers once every year. The din that is created is meant to drive away any lingering devils or spirits.

 

This year, celebrate the New Year with a few projects that kids can do every day: a Chinese game of Rock, Paper, Scissors; a signature stamp; and a batch of Chinese dumplings.

 

Rock, Paper, Scissors

 

For as long as most of us can remember, kids have been trying to one-up each other in the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. In China, children take it a step further. Here’s how:

 

Two kids sit side by side at the bottom of a short staircase. On the count of three, both of them must throw one hand forward in the form of a rock (a fist), paper (fingers held together, straight out), or scissors (forefinger and middle finger in a “V”). Following the logic that paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors, and scissors cut paper, the player who presents the winning symbol in that round moves up one step. If both kids display the same symbol, it’s considered a tie. Play continues in this manner until one child reaches the top step and wins the game.

 

Decorations are an important feature of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year.

One of the main forms of decoration are the ‘Red Couplets’, which are Chinese good luck sayings written on red paper, often with gold trimmings and usually made up of four Chinese characters which ask for luck in terms of long life, wealth etc.

Red is not only a lucky color for the Chinese, but also frightens off the monster ‘Nian’ who arrives at this time of year and destroys crops and homes.

Some New Year couplets are intended to be pasted or pinned in special places such as the kitchen or doors, while some can be placed anywhere. The couplets are usually taken down after the New Year celebrations, thought some people keep them up all year long in the hope of keeping good luck.

Chinatown Online has provided a Chinese New Year couplet for use in classroom activities . Print this on red paper if possible, and color in the figures. The sheet of paper should be cut in half from top to bottom, and the two strips placed on either side of a door.

The couplets say “May you be blessed with peace and safety in all four seasons” and “May you be blessed with peace and safety wherever you are”.

 

  

 

In honor of the New Year, this month the streets of China will be decked with long, lacy garlands. For fun, make one of these popular decorations to string in your own home. Here’s how.

 

Cut at least a dozen or more large circles from colored paper.

 

Fold each circle in half, then in half again, and finally in half a third time (it will resemble a wedge of pizza). Perforate each wedge by making a series of snips from both sides toward the center.

 

Unfold the snipped circles. Apply a few drops of glue along the edge of one open circle. Place a second circle on top of the first, so that the edges stick together. Next, apply glue to the center of the second circle and place a third circle on top of it. Continue adding the remaining circles, alternately gluing the edges and the centers.

 

When the glue is dry, gently pull the top and bottom circle in opposite directions and hang the garland.

 

 

Prior to New Year’s Day, Chinese families decorate their living rooms with vases of pretty blossoms, platters of oranges and tangerines and a candy tray with eight varieties of dried sweet fruit. On walls and doors are poetic couplets, happy wishes written on red paper. These messages sound better than the typical fortune cookie messages. For instance, “May you enjoy continuous good health” and “May the Star of Happiness, the Star of Wealth and the Star of Longevity shine on you” are especially positive couplets.

Plants and Flowers

Every traditional Chinese household should also have live blooming plants to symbolize rebirth and new growth. Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career. Lucky is the home with a plant that blooms on New Year’s Day, for that foretells a year of prosperity. In more elaborate settings, plum blossoms just starting to bloom are arranged with bamboo and pine sprigs, the grouping symbolizing friends; the plum blossom also signifies reliability and perseverance; the bamboo is known for its compatibility, its utility and its flexible stems for furniture and other articles; the evergreen pine evokes longevity and steadiness. Other highly prized flowers are the pussy willow, azalea, peony and water lily or narcissus.

The Chinese firmly believe that without flowers, there would be no formation of any fruits. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to have flowers and floral decorations.

They are the emblems of reawakening of nature, they are also intimately connected with superstition and with the wish for happiness during the ensuing year.

Oranges and Tangerines

Etiquette dictates that you must bring a bag of oranges and tangerines and enclose a lai see when visiting family or friends anytime during the two-week long Chinese New Year celebration. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one’s relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Oranges and tangerines are symbols for abundant happiness.

Candy Tray

The candy tray arranged in either a circle or octagon is called “The Tray of Togetherness” and has a dazzling array of candy to start the New Year sweetly. After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, adults places a red envelope (lai see) on the center compartment of the tray. Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

·       Candied melon – growth and good health

·       Red melon seed – dyed red to symbolize joy,happiness, truth and sincerity

·       Lychee nut – strong family relationships

·       Cumquat – prosperity (gold)

·       Coconut – togetherness

·       Peanuts – long life

·       Longnan – many good sons

·       Lotus seed – many children

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name Stamping

 

When a Chinese artist signs his paintings, he uses a carved stone block or chop to print his symbol on the canvas. To personalize her art or stationery, your child can make a decorative signature stamp out of Styrofoam and cardboard.

 

First, have your child write her initials on tracing paper, making the letters as ornate as she likes or incorporating them into a unique design. Next, place the paper printed-side down on a clean Styrofoam meat tray. Trace over the design with a pen, bearing down to leave an impression in the Styrofoam. Cut out the design, leaving a narrow border all the way around, and glue it onto a piece of cardboard trimmed to the same size.

 

For a handle, glue a tissue tube to the back. Then press the stamp onto an ink pad, and it’s ready to use.

 

Jiaozi — Steamed Dumplings

 

During the Chinese New Year this month, families in China will feast on jiaozi, delectable meat-filled dumplings. With this easy recipe, you can prepare a batch to serve at a family celebration of your own. Or, in true Chinese fashion, invite your neighbors to share a plateful while you ring in the New Year.

 

3 stalks Chinese cabbage

2 scallions

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. cornstarch

1 lb. lean ground pork

1 10-oz. package prepared dumpling wrappers  (available at Asian food stores)

 

Finely chop the Chinese cabbage and scallions and put them in a mixing bowl. Add the soy sauce, salt, cornstarch, and pork. Mix well with a spoon.

 

Place 1 teaspoon of filling on each wrapper. Fold the wrappers into half circles. Moisten the inside edges with water, and press them together to seal.

 

In a large pot, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Drop in the dumplings and cover. When the water resumes boiling, add 1 cup of cold water. Repeat this step twice. When the water boils for the third time, the dumplings will be done. Serve with 1/4 cup soy sauce mixed with 2 tablespoons white vinegar. Makes 4 dozen dumplings.

 

  

A Chinese New Year Cake

 

The Chinese New Year is the first day of the first lunar month (the Chinese calendar is based not on the sun, as the Western calendar is, but on the moon). It begins on the day of the first new moon after the sun enters Aquarius, which happens some time between January 21 and February 19. “Gung Hay Fat Choy,” the Chinese wish for happiness, echoes through the streets, and giant dragons parade the main thoroughfares. Each household displays bowls of oranges and tangerines, symbolizing wealth and good fortune.

 

Meanwhile, children gather at their parents’ house. They bring their own children and light incense to Buddha and burn play money in memory of their ancestors. The children particularly like lighting firecrackers (under the supervision of their elders). The firecrackers take out the bad from the last year and bring in the good of the next.

Throughout the day, family members talk and laugh and eat mushrooms, dried oysters with seaweed plum preserves, fried shrimp chips, and nin gao, the sticky rice cakes associated with the new year, for dessert. Nin means “year” and gao means “cake.” Legend has it that the taller the cake rises, the better the new year will be.

Nin Gao

 

1 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups dark brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 1/2 cups sweet rice flour*
3 dried red dates*

*Available in Asian specialty markets.

 

Mix the rice flour thoroughly with the cooled liquid and transfer the mixture into an 8-inch round aluminum pan (the aluminum pans at supermarket salad bars work very well for this). Set the dates in the middle. Fill a wok, a large pot, or a large, flat pan with 1 inch of water and carefully set the pan in the water. Cover lightly with aluminum foil and gently steam the mixture for about 50 minutes. Take care not to let the water boil over into the nin gao.

 

 

Dragon Mask  

 

6- by 30-inch piece of yellow poster board

Sheets of different colored craft paper

Glue

Stapler

Scissors

Streamers or ribbons, optional

 

Celebrate Chinese New Year with colorful, good luck headgear.

 

Starting at the back, wrap the poster board around your child’s head and staple together the sides an inch or two from his forehead. Remove the poster board and make the dragon’s face by gluing together the poster board flaps that project from the browband (the browband will serve as its neck). Cut out the dragon’s mouth and contour the top of its face. Glue craft paper scales to its neck, face and chin. Add paper eyes, flaring nostrils, teeth and horns. Finally, glue the base of a red paper flame to its lower jaw. For extra fun and color, tie long lengths of ribbon or streamers along your child’s arms.

 

Tip:   Play a game of Chase the Dragon’s Tail: This time-honored Chinese game is played by at least 10 kids. One child is the head of the dragon and wears the mask. The other players line up behind him with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. The head has one minute to tag the last kid in line without causing the line to break apart. If he succeeds, he wins; if not, he becomes the tail, and the child behind him wears the mask.

 

 

Good-luck Goldfish

 

Welcome the Chinese New Year with these colorful, sun-catching goldfish, a traditional Chinese symbol of good fortune.

 

Tissue paper

Goldfish template

Plastic wrap

Glue

Scissors

 
To make one, first draw a large goldfish outline with a 1/2-inch-thick border on an 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of colored card stock and cut it out. (You can also print a template.)   For the scales, fold a 1- by 6-inch strip of colored tissue paper in half 3 times. Leaving the folded sides uncut, trim the paper into a crescent shape, then unfold the paper for a chain of colorful, wavelike shapes. Repeat with as many colors as you like.

 

Next, tape a large piece of plastic wrap to your work surface and slip the fish outline underneath it. Use a paintbrush to spread white glue onto the wrap. Lay the tissue paper strips vertically over the fish, trimming them as needed, overlapping them and alternating colors for a vibrant mix of scales. Gently brush more glue over the tissue paper strips once they’re in place.

 

 When you’ve covered the fish, remove the outline from beneath the plastic and set it in place atop the scales. Add more glue for a stronger hold, if necessary. Let the glue dry overnight, then trim the excess tissue paper and plastic wrap from around the fish and hang it in a window.