Happy New Year! We did our first Chinese New Year celebration, by request from Michael (of course), who originally wanted to invite his entire class, including siblings, parents! 
We settled for 21 children and 8 adults, which worked out fine, except doing a party for 11 year old,pre-teens is an entirely different affair. Not as easy to create a social atmosphere in terms of group cohesion.
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But we attempted a dragonmaking craft, Chinese zodiac instruction, and dumplings, followed by chocolate coins and $1 dollar bills.
Actually, this holiday seems to mostly be about money: giving money, gold decor signifying money, eating food in the shape of money, bestowing wishes to make lots of money!
All in good fun, finished off with cupcakes.
Red & Gold reminded me of Nikko, a beautifully wooded tourist spot outside Tokyo where the the Tokugawa shoguns are buried in ornate, Chinese-style mausoleums. 
1600-1870 Japan drew from Chinese Confucianism as a social philosophy to unify the new country; a kind of classicism like our own capital's neo-Greek architecture in DC, heralding democratic ideals.
As a side-note, I have to say we have discovered catering! Most of the food came from Sesame Inn, a local joint, while Carolyn fried-up wontons and served tangerines.
Michael & Jack were adopted around the New Year, so all these big events resonate simultaneously for us.
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