Chinese New Year's Eve and New Holiday Moon

Tonight is Chinese New Year's Eve. In China, New Year's evening is called Ch’u-yeh, the "evening of discarding", because we can finally be done with the old year, and with winter. 

This last day of the year is busy, because it’s the last chance to complete preparations and be ready to start the year fresh. When the running around is done, the family spends the rest of the day at home together-- family connections are the big theme for this holiday. 

AND tonight is also the new moon; this moon is called the Holiday Moon in China, because of the New Year Festival. In China the new moon is on the first day of the New Year, but because the moon is new tomorrow in China, we celebrate a day late here in the U.S.

Agenda for today:
1. Journal queries
2. Thanksgiving ceremony
2. Welcoming ceremony
3. Make a prosperity tree
4. Prepare a family feast

1. Journal queries: 
The new moon is the first phase of the moon, a beginning time for growth. At the new moon I regroup, evaluate where I am now, and set intentions for the next weeks.

The cold, wet days of February are perfect for prayer, reading, writing, contemplation of the deep questions of life, and listening for leadings and inspirations. It's also time to consider how to nurture love, friendships, and family.

What foggy areas of my life need light shown on them?

What relationships in my life need special attention?

List my intentions for the next weeks in these areas-
Self, Friends and Family, Teaching, Artwork, Writing, Home and Garden, Work/Business, and Volunteer work.

My new moon intentions:
1. Practice the virtues of Tenacity and Discernment
2. Study climate issues, and decide on a climate group to join 
3. Take simplicity actions: Vegetarianism and more.
4. Paint two more "Winter" paintings.
5. Finish ceiling tiles in the studio, and organize for teaching!
6. Nurture my friendships and expand my community

2. Thanksgiving ceremony:
Chinese families fill this afternoon and evening with many ceremonies- Ch’u-yeh is a day of thanksgiving for the blessings of the old year; folks give thanks-offerings to a variety of Chinese gods, to their own ancestors, and to the Spirits of the mountains, forests, and rivers. They light incense and candles, and place flowers, fruits, and other special foods on the altar; then they bow and offer sincere thanks.  

This ceremony is traditionally done in the afternoon, when other work is done. Today after lunch I will make myself a pot of tea, and settle on a cushion in my studio.

1. I will light a small white candle, center myself, and feel myself fill with thankfulness for all I have now in my life.

2. I will follow that with a prayer of gratitude to my ancestors, and to the Spirits of the mountains, forests, and rivers, and God in all forms. 

3. Finally, I will send thanks for the blessings of the old year, and ask for an abundance of new blessings for the New Lunar Year.

3. Welcoming Ceremony:
Last week, on Little New year, we sent the Kitchen God and his wife to heaven in a fire. Today I had a small ceremony to welcome the Kitchen God and his wife back home.

First I made a new portrait- I used a copy of one I drew a few years ago, and colored it with colored pencils.

Then I hung it in the niche in my spice rack, lit red candles, and had a moment of silence to think about ways I could improve.

This year I resolve to be be kinder and more helpful to my family, more tenacious with housecleaning, and have more integrity with my cooking and eating choices.

4. Make a prosperity tree:
The prosperity tree, or money tree, is a tree-shaped charm with coins for leaves, meant to help bring wealth and good fortune to the family.

Supplies: 

For tree- a branching twig, clippers, small yogurt container, plaster of Paris, masking tape, gold spray paint

For coins- white paper, gold foil paper, pencils, stapler, scissors, black pens, red paper

1. Clip the branch to height you want, and trim the side stems even on each side.

2. Fill the container halfway with water, and begin to sprinkle in the dry plaster.  As you sprinkle, break up any clumps. Continue to sprinkle (without mixing) until the plaster mounds up a bit above the water. If some dry plaster sits above the water, then you've added enough.

3. Use the bottom of your tree branch to stir the plaster. It will begin to set as soon as you stir it. Insert the branch and tape it to the edges of the container to hold it until the plaster dries.

4. While it dries, you can make the leaves to hang on the tree. The money tree leaves are in the shape of ancient Chinese coins, round with a square hole.

Draw a circle with a square in the center on a 2 x 2-inch square of white paper. This is your pattern.

5. Cut and stack five 2 x 2-inch pieces of gold foil paper, such as origami paper, place the pattern on top, and staple around the outside of the circle.


6. Cut the inside square space first- hold the papers on a thick pad of newspaper and poke a small hole with the point of the scissors. Cut through all the papers at once.

7. Next cut the outside circle, and separate your coins. Add Chinese characters around the sides of your paper coins with a black pen, if you want.

8. You can also write other wishes for prosperity on red paper strips, to attach to the tree.

9. Spray your tree branch and container gold. Hang the coins and wishes.

5. Have a family feast:
Traditionally, the whole family gathers tonight to share a grand feast, usually a whole chicken or fish to symbolize family togetherness. I will make roasted chicken, stir-fried vegetables, and fried rice tomorrow night and my family is all invited!

Ingredients:

• whole chicken
• 2 tsp. chopped garlic
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. Chinese Five Spice Powder
• 2 Tbsp. reduced sodium soy sauce
• ¾ c. of water
• ¼ c. brown sugar, packed
• sesame oil
• 2 Tbsp. corn starch
• 2 Tbsp. water

1. Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Rinse the chicken, and place it breast up in a roasting pan. Let it warm just a little at room temperature so it will bake evenly.

2. Combine the garlic, ginger, spice powder, soy sauce, ¾ cup of water, and brown sugar, and stir well. Pour this sauce evenly over the chicken. Put the lid on the roasting pan and cook for 2 hours.

3. After 1 hour, take the chicken out and baste it well with the sauce. Replace the lid and return to the oven.

4. In the last 30 minutes of cooking remove the lid so that the skin becomes crisp and browned. In a small bowl whisk together the cornstarch and water so that there are no lumps. 

5. Don't try to remove the chicken to a plate- it will fall apart! Pour the juices off into another pot, and skim off the excess oil. Bring the sauce to a boil. Add the corn starch mixture and whisk. Reduce the heat and let the sauce thicken up.

6. Sprinkle the sesame oil over the chicken, and serve in the pan with the sauce on the side.