Tablescape # 40 Chinese New Year

2012 Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year annually falls on different dates.  In 2012 it is January 23, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Dragon. 

I love the Chinese New Year's Parade and all the traditions that go into making the 15 day celebration memorable...

Young children receive Red Envelopes with money during the celebration.

I was raised in the San Francisco bay area and the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco was a big deal even back then.  The Parade was started in the 1860's by the Chinese in San Francisco as a means to educate the community about their culture, the Parade and Festival have grown to be the largest celebration of Asian culture outside of Asia. 

I love Chinese food and I'm fairly good with chop sticks.  When I do go out to dinner I always want to eat Chinese food and I bring extra pairs of chop sticks home for my granddaughters.

This tea house tea pot  was a gift from a dear friend.  She volunteers at the Cancer Society Thrift store and bought it for me.  She knows I love tea pots.

~Very Cute~

When I was a girl around 10 years old. (circa 1950)  My mother would take my younger sister and I to a little  Chinese  restaurant in San Jose.  We would sit in a little cubicle at a table and the entrance to the cubicle had black curtains covering the doorway.  Something like this photo.  And the best part was a little Chinese man dressed in a black changshan and wearing a rounded black hat would come in through the curtains and take our order then quickly and quietly leave us to our visiting. As we pretended we were in a China tea house.
That was the day I fell in love with China.
and of course reading the book
 'The Good Earth' by Pearl S. Buck made China even more appealing for my bucket list of places to travel.

This is my sign in Chinese Astrology.

I am a snake! A metal snake 

Attributes

Firmness, rigidity, persistence, strength and determination. The metal person is controlling, ambitious, forceful and set in their ways as metal is very strong; and they are self-reliant and prefer to handled their problems alone.  The metal person is also materialistic, business oriented and good at organization and stability. 

Black tea eggs

Yield: 18 eggs

Preparation: 5 minutes

Cook: 9 minutes 

Refrigerate:overnight

12 cups water

18 large eggs

1 cup Chinese black loose-leaf tea leaves

1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce

4 cinnamon sticks

* In a large stockpot, bring water to a hard boil over medium-high heat.

Carefully place eggs in pot.  Cook for 9 minutes.  Remove eggs from water, 

and immediately place in an ice bath.

*Add tea leaves, soy sauce, and cinnamon sticks to stockpot.  Bring to a hard boil.  Remove from heat.

*Using the back of a spoon, crack egg shells.  Place eggs in prepared water.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Carefully peel eggs before serving.

Noodle dishes, which represent a long life, are appropriate to serve during 

the Chinese New Year celebration.

The fish candle holders are a part of my childhood.  I remember my mother placing the beautiful green fish in the center of our dinner table.  I love these fish. 

For More traditions, go to Chinese New Year Post 2011 Here

Resources:

Dinnerware Ralph Lauren Claridge Gold  - gift for 50th Wedding Anniversary

Tea cup and saucer -Arita Hand Painted Made in Japan

Red Envelope and Snake charm - World Market

Tea Pot - no markings

Vintage Fish Candle Holders - no markings

Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner and I hope you enjoyed my Chinese New Year Tablescape.
I'm joining
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
No Minimialist Here for Open House Here Thursday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday
and 
At the Picket Fence for  Inspiration Friday

Please link back to the wonderful blogs for more inspiring visions.
Have a great weekend
xo
Betty