Chinese New Year Comes Roaring In

By Jen Smith
February 17, 2010

A Bengal tiger welcoming Chinese New Year (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images); a Chinese dragon at a Chinese New Year parade (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images); a coin is placed for good luck in the mouth of a sculpture ahead of the arrival of the New Year in Beijing (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images)

While some were on romantic rendezvous this past Sunday and others were glued to their televisions watching the Olympic biathlon and luge, Chinese communities all over the world—from Beijing to San Francisco to Sydney—were celebrating the New Year, a fifteen day celebration that kicks off on the first day of the lunar new year. According to the Chinese astrology calendar, 2010 is the year of the White Tiger, an animal notable for its fearlessness, power and beauty.

Iconic images of Chinese New Year's celebrations include bright envelopes stuffed with lucky money, bowls of long noodles and dumplings, parades of fantastical creatures, bowls of fruit, fragrant flowers, noisy firecrackers to ward away the evil spirits and of course, the color red. It's easy to find fun and affordable Chinese party favors and decorations on eBay (there were over 1,000 listings when I last checked), but my goal was to find more permanent items that would make this year one to remember. Here's what I can up with.

Celebrating the Chinese New Year in Style

1. Chinese Folk Festival Costume (buy it now price, $375) The arrival of the lucky dragon is almost better than Santa and his reindeer!

2. Chinese Old Embroidered Baby Carrier (buy it now price, $148.00) What better way to hold a little one close to your heart than with this lovingly made baby carrier?

3. Pair of Chinese Ancestor Painting Scrolls (buy it now price, $1500) If I had the chance to splurge, I'd choose this wise and wonderful pair to watch over my home.

4. In The Mood For Love (Criterion Collection) (buy it now price, $26.98) Get caught up in Wong Kar Wai’s movingly beautiful and infinitely sad masterpiece about love’s complex and mysterious ways.

5. Bengal Tiger Chinese New Year Handpainted Painted Rock (buy it now price, $34.95) Best doorstop I’ve ever seen.

6. Happy Chinese New Year Dog Shirt (buy it now price, $2.50) I think I have to get a Chihuahua just so I can play dress-up with this wee robe.

7. Red Dragon Phoenix Box With Chinese Chess Set (buy it now price, $88.00) Battle it out with an exquisite wooden chess set.

8. Chinese Slippers (buy it now price, $20.00) Kiss her feet with these brightly embroidered slippers.

9. Cave’s Hua Yan Edible Bird Nest (buy it now price, $99.00) I have to admit: The thought of biting into a bird’s nest sounds like a mouthful of twigs. But I would try this delicacy for its renowned health benefits.

10. Antique Chinese Two Tier Red Lacquer Food Carrier (buy it now price, $189.00) I am filling this with tiers of soup dumplings and dropping it off at my son’s school for a lunch surprise.

11. Kumquat Tree (buy it now price, $45.99) The Chinese culture is ultra-rich with symbolism. If you desire prosperity this year, buy yourself a kumquat tree. Better yet, pay it forward and give one away.

12. Chinese Handmade Silk Embroidery Bedcover (buy it now price, $70) This red, red silk coverlet is hand embroidered with lovely, sweet flowers.

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