Chinese New Year

Celebrate Chinese New Year

Give your room a red theme - a potent colour guaranteed to ward off evil spirits. Red paper napkins and tablecloth perhaps, and even red Chinese paper lanterns.
You could observe the ancient custom of Hung Bao. Give each child or unmarried person a red envelope containing money. This represents your wish to them for good fortune and wealth in the coming year.
According to tradition, everyone present should be wearing new clothes. People should avoid black or white if possible, as these colours have sad associations in China.
After the meal, it's also traditional to stay at the table and play cards or board games. If they're available, finish your evening with some fireworks.

The most important meal of the Chinese New Year festival is the New Year’s Eve meal where friends & family come together for a reunion.

The idea is for everyone to take their time and try a little of all those big, restaurant-style Chinese taste sensations. Here's how to do it:

Asian-style food warmers are widely available. These are a great investment for keeping any kind of Asian-style food warm at the table. Place these in the centre of the table. Bring each dish from the kitchen on a serving plate and place it on a warmer.
Chinese style serving plates and bowls in their classic designs and colours are inexpensive and a great way to achieve the true restaurant experience.
Typical dishes for Chinese New Year include serving a whole fish with its head & tail, which represents the beginning, middle & end of the year. Noodles are eaten for longevity, prawns because the Cantonese word for them is “Ha” which means happiness, and a chicken dish to signify rebirth.
For a traditional feel, each person eats from a bowl. They take a portion of rice or noodles and then a spoonful of each of the dishes you present.
Why not also try chopsticks- some people pick up the knack quickly, while the fumbling of others always provides a bit of extra fun!
The Number 8 is considered a lucky number and will bring prosperity, however the number 7 is an unlucky number which is associated with death & funerals, so make sure you don’t serve 7 dishes or have 7 people at the table!