How to Throw the ULTIMATE Chinese New Year Party
Typically, tradition for Chinese New Year is to attend elaborate parades and celebrate by dancing through the streets. However, once again, the pandemic has meant this won’t be possible for many wanting to party their way into the Year of the Tiger.
However, you can still host the ULTIMATE Chinese New Year party right from your very home. We’ve put together some inspiration when it comes to the food you’ll want to serve, the drinks you’ll want to make and even some activities that will keep the whole party entertained.
Make your own bao buns
Whilst the intricate folds of dumplings can often take years to finesse and perfect, bao buns offer a slightly easier DIY option. The Woks of life have shared this BBQ Pork Char Siu Bao recipe so you can get creative in the kitchen this Lunar New Year.
Failing that, you could always order some bao buns and simply steam at home instead.
Serve up some lucky orange blossom cocktails
Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
Oranges are said to symbolise good luck in Chinese culture so start the new year off right with this orange blossom cocktail.
You’ll need:
1 ounce gin
1 ounce sweet vermouth
1 ounce orange juice, freshly squeezed
Garnish: orange wedge
Simply add the gin, sweet vermouth and orange juice into a shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.
Garnish with an orange wedge.
Create your own hóngbāo to give to each other
During Chinese New Year, birthdays, weddings and other special occasions, red envelopes are exchanged as a way of sending good wishes. Money is inserted into these envelopes, with the colour red symbolising energy, happiness and good luck in Chinese traditions.
When crafting your own envelopes, the first thing you’ll need to do is find a template online that you can use to create the shape of the envelope ready to decorate. Traditionally, these ornate envelopes are decorated with gold detailing - you could use gold glitter as well as stencils which again, can be found online to help write your message as well as draw a tiger on your envelope.
FACT: The amount given in red envelopes never includes the number ‘4’ - that means no 4, 40, or 400 amounts - as the pronunciation of ‘four’ in Chinese sounds like the word for death. However, amounts including the number ‘8’ will bring good luck and prosperity.
Create some traditional window decorations
Using more of that red paper, why not use it to make some paper cuttings to hang in the window? Here is a little how-to guide to get you started, and then you can go wild with your designs!
End the night with a bang!
No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without fireworks. According to tradition, not only is the terrifying beast Nian afraid of the light and noises that come from the fireworks, but the noise awakens a magical dragon who will bring spring rain for crops. Make sure you’ve got a professional in control of the fireworks, so not only is it safe, but you can sit back and enjoy the show.