Step by Step Guide: How to Celebrate Chinese New Year at Home
Chinese New Year is one of the most important dates in the Asian calendar. Want to take this opportunity to prepare a delicious (and easy) 100% Chinese dinner at home? Make a note of this suggested menu while you discover some interesting facts about this celebration.
Step 1: Chinese New Year celebration menu
Surprise your children or friends with an original dinner including the best-known Chinese delicacies to celebrate this occasion. In just a few minutes, you can have an exotic, healthy and delicious menu that everyone will enjoy.
To start, we suggest some Chinese “tapas”, such as the irresistible prawn or meat siao long pao, a traditional dish from northern Shanghai that comes in the form of delicious stuffed dumplings. To prepare it, you just have to put the tray in the microwave for three minutes, peel off the film and enjoy.
This menu wouldn’t be complete without one of the most popular Chinese dishes: spring rolls. Did you know that the ancient Chinese ate these rolls in early spring at the time of the Chinese New Year and the start of the planting season. They were a symbol of a fruitful harvest. Coat them in oil and oven bake them or deep fry them in sunflower or soybean oil. Enjoy their crispy texture and tasty filling!
After these delicious starters, which will leave you wanting more, continue with a classic: special fried rice with tasty pieces of cooked ham, omelette and vegetables. All you have to do is microwave the package for three minutes on full power or sauté the rice in a frying pan if you prefer. Combine the rice with another of the best-known Chinese dishes: beef with mushrooms and bamboo, an absolutely delicious choice! Like with the rice, just put the tray in the microwave and heat it for three minutes. The food will be ready to eat!
Step 2: decorations
As you can see, the preparation part of the menu is really simple. In just three minutes, you can enjoy authentic Asian food at home. So, you’ll still have plenty of time to continue preparing for the celebration. If you really want to surprise your guests and get them into the mood, it’s a good idea to decorate the room for the occasion. Because just like at Christmas time in the West when everyone’s home and all the streets and restaurants glow with beautiful ornaments and Christmas trees, when the Chinese New Year draws near, China is enveloped in a sea of red: bright lamps, lanterns, wreaths, garlands, plants and flowers (especially cherry and plum) are all good-luck symbols and traditional seasonal decorations. If you have young children, get them to take care of the decorations by planning a fun afternoon of arts and crafts.
Step 3: background music
To celebrate the Chinese New Year at home, you must have the right soundtrack for the occasion. If you aren’t well versed in Chinese music, don’t panic! You’ll find plenty of playlists on Spotify that have been specially created for the occasion. Press play!
Fun facts about the Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, is the most important traditional festival in China. It can be dated back about 3,500 years. Did you know that the Chinese New Year isn’t celebrated on a fixed date? But while the date varies, it’s always celebrated between 21 January and 20 February. Something else you might not know is that every Chinese New Year begins with a new animal of the zodiac. 2022 was the year of the tiger. So, since you already know how to celebrate the Chinese New Year at home, now all you need to do is learn how to wish everyone a happy new year in Chinese. Happy New Year in Chinese is Xīnnián kuàilè 新年快乐 (pronounced sshin-nyen kuahy-luh). Learn it by heart and leave your guests speechless!
