Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese Lunar New Year! This year we celebrate the Year of the Dog. The Dog is the eleventh in the 12 year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac sign. The Years of the Dog include 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, and 2018. Our daughter is Chinese, and we love celebrating her heritage every day but especially on the New Year. Some years, we go to our favorite Chinese restaurant or have thrown a big party with another family, but this year dinner at home with friends and family seemed like the best idea.
The perfect way to set the tone for your party is with your invitation. My DIY Felt Fortune Cookie Invitation is a darling way to invite your friends. Now let’s get on to the party!
I stayed with the traditional colors of black, red and gold for this table setting. Big gold chargers add a striking look to the black square dinner plates, and I love finishing it off with the round dessert plate. Gold cutlery is wrapped in the napkin for those who would rather not use chopsticks, and my DIY Party Cracker Favor is waiting to be opened at each place setting. 
Lai See or "good luck" red envelopes are traditionally given to younger generations from the older. They are generally filled with a small monetary gift. 
Tangerines piled high with a dragon pick make the perfect centerpiece. The word "tangerine" in Chinese sounds similar to the word "luck" and "orange" sounds like the Chinese word for "wealth," so these are commonly found on the Lunar New Year table. 
To add some drama to my table, I hung lanterns in varying sizes and colors from the ceiling. I also added a red paper parasol in the center to create some drama. 
These gorgeous lantern cookies from Milk & Honey Cakery were the perfect sweet ending to my dinner party. 
At the end of the night, each child opened their crackers and red envelopes. 
Make sure to see my posts on the DIY Felt Fortune Cookie Invitation and the DIY Party Cracker Favors I made. If you're looking for an easy and delicious appetizer, my recipe for Easy Won Ton Chicken Tacos are just what you need! Gung Hay Fat Choy! May this coming year be prosperous and lucky! Cookies by Milk & Honey Cakery.
