So traditionally, Alex’s parents always celebrate Chinese New Year and this year was no exception. The boys all got their new haircuts, and were happily awaiting the festivities ahead. I was still recovering from my laryngitis and did not feel up to celebrating so as Alex and the boys headed out to Ah-Mah/Yeh-Yeh’s, I zonked out on the bed and did not wake up until 3 hours after the fact. Upon the boys’ return home…. they ran upstairs to greet me in my room. they showed me their red envelopes (Nicholas pointing out to me specifically that there’s paper money in the envelopes… not coins which is what I usually reward them with for little accomplishments). Wesley could care less about what’s inside the envelope, he just liked the fact that the envelope jingled (from a bell attached at the flap) as it was being shook. The boys also each got a cool cup from their Uncle Van: Wesley a Nemo and Nicholas a Dash which they got to use the very next morning during their breakfast meal.
I’m glad to see my kids enjoy in a tradition like this. I only remember Chinese New Year’s celebration being a big thing when we were in Asia, but since moving to the states, all the celebrations were more or less sparked by the Chinese School festivities (which I MC’d on more than one occasion in both English and Chinese can you believe?) that occurred during those times of the year. Any celebration that occurred in our household growing up would be instigated by my father. He’d make us New Year’s sticky rice cake and provide traditional Chinese treats to commemorate this occasion. Nothing fancy, just a lowkey celebration to acknowledge the coming of the New Year.