This morning Christine and I went to Maile’s school to participate in a tea ceremony. Maile and her classmates have been practicing all week. It was a great little ceremony.
Mommy, Daddy and Maile - Chinese New Year's 2014
New Year Tea Ceremony is a traditional custom in the Chinese Lunar Year celebration. Traditionally, on the day of Chinese New Year, children present a cup of tea to their parents, grandparents and elders in the family to wish them a prosperous new year. This ritual is called 拜年（Bàinián) wishing people happy new year. In return, the elders give the children a red envelope for good luck and good wish.
To start the ceremony, Christine and I sat down in chairs and then Maile served us each tea while wishing us happy new year in Chinese: 新年快乐 （Xīnnián kuàilè）Happy New Year!
Maile serving Mommy and Daddy tea...
After we gave Maile a red envelope we had prepared – Christine made a butterfly by folding a dollar bill 🙂 I gave it to Maile using two hands and we wished her Happy New Year too and 恭喜恭喜（Gōngxǐ gōngxǐ) Congratulations!
Daddy giving Maile her New Year's envelope...
Tonight we put the envelope underneath Maile’s pillow where it will stay for 15 days. After that she will open it to find our good wish on February 14th 🙂
