How to entertain guest during Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is the time where everyone gather together and have a reunion dinner or a simple gathering with family friends. Before Chinese New Year, everyone family will go to shop for snacks, drinks and ordered new years cookies to keep at home and to entertain guest when someone came to visit. You will see lots of people buying cartons of drinks and boxes of mandarin oranges too.

Mandarin Oranges

snacks to serve guests

Normally the first day and second day of Chinese New Year is celebrated together with family members. On the third day, most of them will start to visit their relatives and friends house. Married couples that are in the house will give red packet or known also as ang pow will be given to those who are not married. The host of the house will first serve the guest with drinks, snacks and cookies.

ang pow and mandarin oranges

Example of new years cookies that will entertain the guests are kuih kapit (also known as love letter), pineapple tarts and many more. Not only that, guest will get to taste on the mandarin oranges that are mostly only available during the Lunar Year.

pineapple tarts

kuih kapit or known as love letters

During Chinese New Year, guest are invited to gamble together. The host normally will set up a mahjong table or a box of poker cards to entertain guests. Although gambling is not a good activity but it is only during Chinese New Year gambling will be played in all houses.

mahjong and poker cards

While during the night time, children will be allowed to play fire crackers under the supervision of an adult to entertain them. Playing fire crackers are a symbol of good luck when is played in front of the house. That is why children are allowed to play during Chinese New Year but nowadays fire cracker are very dangerous and not save to play. So there are some that are not dangerous to be played with.

Fire crackers

Children Fire crackers