Chinese New Year Cards

The Chinese New Year is the longest and quite possibly one of the most important celebrations in Chinese culture. This is when Buddha named all the animals and each of them received their personality with their names, therefore people born during the years of each of the animals also have those characteristics.

Chinese New Year celebrations are filled with family celebrations and are usually the time for family reunions. The main color is red, which symbolizes fire and according to Chinese legend fire drives away bad luck (therefore it is good luck). Celebrations include wearing red, giving red gifts (such as envelopes with money to children), a lantern festival, dragon dance and fireworks. Community and family are intertwined in these celebrations.

For web resources to plan the perfect Chinese New Year party or to help you add a little Chinese culture to your day include:

Oriental Trading.com: This website offers a party invitation in black, red and gold with Chinese symbols. Also available are party favors, banners, crafts for adults and children and games. Prices range from $3.95 for invitations to $27.95 for filled gift bags.

To email or print a card my favorite sites are:

Blue Mountain.com which offers both free and members cards available for email greetings. These electronic greeting cards feature Chinese colors, symbols, lettering and more widely recognized items like fortune cookies, lanterns and firecrackers. If you are a member you may create your own with your own pictures, graphics and symbols or you may use one of their templates. Create and Print using their easy software system. Membership is $13.95 for a year, with one month free.

American Greetings.com also offers electronic greeting cards free for non members and then create and print options for members, however, their selection was not very extensive, but with the create and print you can make whatever you want by searching out Chinese symbols and words, saving them as a graphic to your computer and then loading them to the create and print center.