The Lunar New Year is celebrated by more than 20% of the world. It’s the most important holiday in China and Chinese people all over the world.
Here are our top facts that you probably didn’t know about the Lunar New Year:
1. Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival
In China, you’ll hear it being called chunjie (春节), or the Spring Festival. The season is wintry and this holiday marks the end of one of coldest days. People welcome spring and what it brings along: planting and harvesting, new beginnings and a new year.
2. The date changes every year.
There is no set date for Lunar New Year, the Spring Festival starts on 1 -15 January and then the Lunar New Year ranges from 21 January to 20 February, with the 2019 Lunar New Year falling on Thursday 5 February, 2019.
3. A day for praying to Gods.
Lunar New Year is a ceremonial day where people pray to gods for good luck, planning and harvest. They also pray and pay respects to their ancestors and respect the deceased as gods.
4. It’s the longest Chinese holiday
With the Spring Festival and the Lunar New Year festival, if you are in China you get around 40 days of celebrations.
5. No showering or cleaning allowed
A heavy day of traditions, including not being allowed too shower, clean or throw ouy rubbish as this is believed to sweep away the good luck.
6. Red Envelopes
Red pockets filled with money are given out to young children to help transfer the fortune from the older generation to the younger generation. Red pockets are also welcomed between bosses and employees, co-workers and friends.
7. Dumplings for days
Most people over the Lunar New Year eat dumplings, it’s a Lunar New Year tradition and most will eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
8. Lunar New year Desserts
There are special Lunar New Year desserts which are eaten to give people blessings for goof fortune, wealth and prosperity for the next year. These include Rice Cake called Nian Gao, Sponge Cake and Muffins called Fa Gao, Turnip Cake called Luo Bo Gao and Jujube Flower Cakes called Zeo Hua Gao.
9. Chinese Wines
Wine plays a significant role in Lunar New Year celebrations. The most common is Chinese white wine, also known as Baijiu. Tusu Wine and Jiao wine.
To celebrate Lunar New Year and the year of the Pig, InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto will be swapping from our classic Clarke Sisters’ High Tea and hosting a Lunar New Year High Tea over two full afternoons. Also visit the hotel over the Lunar New Year for our full hotel activation.
Join us for a Lunar New Year inspired take on everyone’s favourite Melbourne High Tea degustation. Enjoy a Yum Cha style tea stand, Chinese main, red bean scones and Lunar New Year inspired desserts, available on Saturday 2 February, 2019.
Enjoy 4 indulgent courses:
TO BEGIN:
Be seated to create your own deconstructed Champagne Cocktail.
Begin with a Yuma Cha high tea stand brought to your table, showcasing scallop and shrimp shumai, Chinese prawns Hagao, duck spring rolls, vegetable dumplings and steamed pork buns.
THE MAIN:
Be treated to a light main of Chinese inspired main, showcasing flavours to complimentary the year of the pig.
TO FINISH:
Freshly baked five spiced scones and buttermilk scones with strawberry jam and double cream.
TWG TEA
THE RIALTO PRECINCT DESSERT TROLLEY
To finish, be treated to the decadent Rialto Precinct Dessert Trolley, featuring heavenly cakes from the kitchens of renowned local venue Merchant and Chinese Lunar New Year desserts of Macao egg tarts, mango jelly and sesame rice balls.
To make the most of your intimate experience we offer 6 sessions both days. Please be advised that High Tea is only available to guests over the age of 16 years.
Sessions times:
12:30pm
1.00pm
1.30pm
2.00pm
2.30pm
3.00pm
Location:
Hosted in the sun-drenched Alluvial Restaurant at InterContinental Melbourne The Rialto at 495 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
BOOKINGS
$99pp with Champagne Cocktail or $149pp with free flowing French Champagne
GROUP BOOKINGS
*$85pp group menu with Champagne Cocktail or $135pp with free flowing French Champagne
*Please note group menu is only available to groups of 10+ guests.
Connect directly with the hotel to book via Email: [email protected] or Phone: +61 3 8627 1400
Bookings essential, for more information visit:
https://www.melbourne.intercontinental.com/offers/lunar-new-year-high-tea/
