Chinese New Year
I love Chinese New Year! For me, Chinese New Year is a celebration of my childhood and an opportunity to help my children develop an appreciation for other cultures.
Sunday, my Daughter and I went to the local Chinese market to pick up a few things for our celebration. We stayed to watch a Lion Dance. It was one of the biggest demonstrations I've seen in America. You can check out some of my photos of the Lion Dance on my Posterous Page.
The kids watched 'Iron Monkey' yesterday while I got the house ready for our New Year celebration. It is one of the best Chinese comedies that I have in my library. They watched the whole thing, even though it is subtitled!
Last night I had my brother and sister-in-law over for dinner. I made Char Siu Fan, Cai Lan, Stir-fried veggies, and Wonton soup. I handed out Red Packets to my children and to my nephew. I talked about the various customs and beliefs that center around the New Year.
Talking with our children about culture is important. They need to know their culture well enough to love its strengths and understand its weaknesses. They need to appreciate cultures and people who are different. Chinese New Year is a chance for me to expose my children to something different and wonderful. I take the same opportunity on the 4th of July and other important celebrations.
What are you doing to develop an appreciation for other cultures in your family?