Keeper of the B's: It's the Year of the Ox!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

It's the Year of the Ox!

Due to our crazy hockey schedule, we were not able to make any of our area's organized Chinese New Year celebrations. So, we had our own family celebration at home (which is how we usually prefer it anyway).

Last week, the little kids and I decorated our house and did some CNY crafts. Then, on Saturday, I made Asian Orange Chicken, Longevity Noodles, and dumplings for our CNY feast. It didn't taste as good as it sounds, but it was Chinese! We gave the kids their red envelopes and then danced with the little lion dancer marionette we bought in China last summer. Brock Ji Hao and Brielle were thrilled with each and every activity!

Since CNY is China's most important holiday, I was curious to ask Brock Ji Hao how he celebrated CNY in China. He told me that he had seen Lion Dancers on t.v., but they never came to the "hotel" (what he calls the orphanage). He had never received the traditional "red envelopes", but he said a "woman" give one to his "laoshi" (teacher), and that there was money inside. He did describe something that sounded like the Lantern Festival, which concludes CNY. He said the children walked outside in the dark carrying lanterns. He was unaware of the Chinese zodiac, the animals, etc., which I find surprising. He is, however, happy to now know that he was born in the year of the Dragon!

My little Dragon and little Rooster...