FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hae Yuon Kim, Principal
Chopsticks, Please
1-866-386-2828
510-654-8102
info at chopsticksplease.com

Make a Red Envelope with Hae Yuon Kim at Oakland Museum's Lunar New Year Celebration

Oakland, CA, January 25, 2006—The red envelope is a monetary gift which is given in many Asian societies. During Lunar New Year, a hóng bao (lai si in Cantonese) is given by the grown-ups and elders to children and younger relatives to wish them good luck, peace and prosperity. Hae Yuon Kim principal of Chopsticks, Please will be leading a hands-on demonstration of making and decorating red envelopes for families participating in the Lunar New Year Celebration at the Oakland Museum taking place on Sunday, January 29 from noon to 4pm.

"Celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year with dragon dancers, the Red Panda Acrobats, Taiko drumming by Kizakura, and J. D. Zhang in “Change of Face.” Activities include mochi pounding and tasting, Chinese opera face painting, storytelling, demonstrations of Tae Kwon Do and Sogetsu ikebana, tea testing, and cooking demonstrations. Visit the artists’ marketplace and food and craft vendors. Presented with DEAF Media and the National Japanese American Historical Society. For a detailed schedule visit: Lunar New Year Schedule 12–4 p.m. Included with museum admission." (from Oakland Museum web site) Museum admission is $8 for adults, $5 seniors and students with ID, free for children five and under.

For Asian Americans, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays of the year. Chinese New Year, Vietnamese New Year (Tet), Korean New Year (Sol-Nal), and Tibetan New Year (Losar) follow many of the same customs dating back thousands of years.

The custom of giving monetary gifts is common in many Asian cultures. Red envelopes are also often given on wedding days and birthdays. In Vietnam, red envelopes are called lì xi. In Japan, a monetary gift, called otoshidama, is given to children by their relatives during the New Year period. A white envelope, however, is used instead in Japan and Korea. In Korea, the gift is bestowed after the younger people have performed a formal bow called se-bae to their elders as a sign of respect. In Malaysia, money is given in green packets.

The Chopsticks, Please card line will be on display and available for purchase at the event.

 

About Chopsticks, Please:

This Oakland-based greeting card company was founded by Hae Yuon Kim, a mom and graphic artist born in Korea. Chopsticks, Please lets Asian Americans, adoptive parents, and fans of Asian design find the perfect card to cheer friends and family. You can buy cards online at ChopsticksPlease.com. They’re also carried by the Asian Society’s AsiaStore in New York City.