Chinese New Year

We are totally going to have a Chinese New Year party this weekend. There is a lot to learn about this awesome new culture that will soon be a huge part of our family. In preparation for the new year:

1. The house has to start out immaculately clean. Every part of it. Out with everything old.

2. Buy new clothes and shoes for the children, preferably red ones.

3. Children receive money in a red envelope, a brand new dollar bill symbolizing good luck in the coming year. They also receive an orange to symbolize good health and a long life.

4. Open all windows and doors on New Years Eve to get rid of the past year.

5. Decorate doors and door ways with red paper cut-outs, and streamers that symbolize good fortune.

6. A circular candy tray to symbolize sweet togetherness.

We're also going to have a feast, but that's a different post. I'll post pictures for sure. There is a lot more, we'll get to it.

There's a sweet tradition that you leave an empty place setting for everyone that couldn't join this year. We'll have two little empty places, and we feel it.

Today is a bank holiday, the kids are home from school. The little cousins are over to play, the older cousins have gone snowboarding. It's super fun, but I'm a little bit sad, because government agencies are closed! Nothing moving forward today. Hmmmm. I'll tell you what though, I'm taking this tradition to heart. My laundry room is beautiful, and the mud room is also beautifully clean! I have a huge pile to donate. My Chinese New Year is going to start out right! Next year, we'll all be together, as we were meant to be.