As the Chinese New Year approaches, can you feel the festive atmosphere in the air? That profound emotional ambiance seems to transport us back to the scenes of our mothers and grandmothers bustling around, cooking the New Year's Eve dinner. The entire family gathers around the hearth, savoring the aromatic delicacies, enjoying the festive candies spread across the table, or staying up together to welcome the New Year with the warmth of firecrackers. The red spring couplets reflect on everyone's smiling faces. Do these countless images flash through your mind warm your heart? Let's reproduce this unique New Year's flavor together and savor the goodness with our families.
Firstly, the tradition of "Out with the old, in with the new" is essential during the New Year. As the saying goes, "clean up by the 28th day of the lunar month." Roll up your sleeves, and let the entire family join in the spring cleaning: dad clearing the yard, mom organizing the kitchen, brother sweeping the floor, and sister cleaning the windows.
Working together will give your home a refreshing new look! Don't forget to take this opportunity to let go of unnecessary items. Children can participate in the decluttering, donating unwanted clothes and toys, allowing the space at home to be better utilized. A wide-open space brings a peace of mind. BROTH friends who are far away from family can also join the spring cleaning to refresh both the home and mind, using a sparkling clean home and peaceful, yet joyful feeling to welcome the Year of the Dragon!
Next, it is the jubilant time of buying New Year goods. Rice cakes symbolize progress step by step, as are various Chinese New Year candies and melon seeds, and festive spring couplets; the dazzling array of New Year goods brings back sweet memories of childhood. Come to our BROTH’s store; we also have many Chinese New Year limited editions, such as the rich and succulent Wild Mullet Roe Bites, the famous Master Wang's Bakery Mixed Cake Combo Gift, the guest-friendly Sheng Zu Tribute Candy, and the exquisite LIJI Pine Nuts Pastry (Red Bean & Mung Bean). Feeling hungry yet? The delicious options are irresistible.
After shopping for New Year goods, let's decorate our homes with more New Year flavor. Creative friends can write or draw creative couplets with their children, cut window flowers with red paper, and if the Christmas tree at home hasn't been put away, you can also put red bows and red envelopes on it. After a little decoration, the Christmas tree turns into a Chinese New Year tree! Through these ideas, you can make your home a full of delight. Also, before the New Year, share the story of the Year Beast with children and make helmets together to welcome the Year of the Dragon. These fun and interesting activities will leave a lasting impression on children about the traditional beauty of the New Year.
The highlight of the Chinese New Year is undoubtedly preparing the New Year's Eve dinner. But do you know why the reunion dinner is also called "gathering around the stove"? Because it's winter, and people in the north often set up a hot pot in the middle of the table, hence the term "gathering around the stove."
Regardless, a family sitting together for a meal is the most satisfying. However, preparing the New Year's Eve dinner alone can be tough for mom. How about everyone getting involved and enjoying the fun of cooking? Dad can stew fragrant chicken broth and prepare festive dishes, mom can personally make dumplings—apparently, the sound of chopping while making dumplings scares away the Year Beast—children can make nutritious and delicious Chicken Essence Steamed Eggs, uncle can fry fragrant New Year cakes, and grandma can bring out her specialties like Buddha Jumps Over the Wall and braised napa cabbage. Auntie's pine nut pastries brought home are dense and delicate, suitable for entertaining guests. Eating while sharing New Year's good wishes, promoting the dishes you're responsible for, and giving your cooked dishes auspicious names is both delicious and fun!
The most interesting part is to see who the lucky one is to find the coin hidden in the dumplings. Whoever finds it will have good luck and happiness in the Year of the Dragon! BROTH friends away from family can also prepare delicious New Year’s dishes or use BROTH’s famous broths to make hot pot with friends, then play some board games together to enjoy the warm festive atmosphere with your close company.
After the New Year's Eve dinner comes the joyful time of giving out red envelopes to the family. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a little monster called "Sui." It had a black body and white hands and often came out to scare people on New Year's Eve. Especially when children were sleeping, it would touch their heads to make them sick. Later, there was a wealthy family, blessed with a son in their old age. Treasuring him as a treasure, they didn't dare to sleep on New Year's Eve. They stayed up all night playing with the child, who wrapped copper coins in red paper while playing.
Later, when they fell asleep, the red paper and copper coins were placed next to the pillow. When night fell, "Sui" appeared as usual to harm the child, but the red paper and copper coins next to the pillow emitted a bright light, scaring "Sui" away. It evolved into the tradition of using red ropes strung with coins as gifts for children, symbolizing "long life." After currency changed to paper money, it gradually evolved into the red envelopes we are familiar with today.
From ancient times to the present, what’s constant remains parents' boundless love. Parents can write blessings on the red envelopes for their children. Putting the red envelopes under the pillow when the child is asleep, and with the blessings and guardianship of mom and dad, the Year Beast and monsters dare not come near. Kids, did you know? The best thing about the New Year is that during this period, parents avoid quarreling or getting angry so as not to affect the luck and blessings of the coming year. So, parents won't scold you during the New Year; isn't that great? But most importantly, for the family's luck and blessings for the year, gentlemen, don't forget to give your wife a big red envelope for all the things she does for the family!
After reading so many interesting New Year traditions, are you also looking forward to embracing these beautiful customs? BROTH wishes you the blessings of the Year of the Dragon and adds bliss to the delicious taste. Finally, let's appreciate some exclusive couplets for the Year of the Dragon. BROTH friends, you can also write them with us!
