Three CNY traditions come alive at Peninsula Manila

Painting the Dragon’s Eye.

Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year together with friends and family at at The Peninsula Manila’s The Lobby, Escolta and The Peninsula Boutique to usher in the Year of the Dragon, a period symbolizing strength, prosperity and good fortune.

On 10 February from 9:08 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the traditional Peninsula Lion and Dragon Dance will take center stage at the porte-cochère and The Lobby. This lively performance is believed to dispel evil spirits and usher in luck. Open to the public.From 7 to 14 February, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Peninsula Boutique unveils a limited-edition line of Lunar New Year edible fine chocolate trees as auspicious gifts.

Lucky Chocolate Trees

Pastry Chef Annalyn Solano and her team have created two Chinese New Year-themed trees — a Mandarin Orange Tree and a Golden Fortune Money Tree. The large trees go for
P3,888 while the small trees are P2,888 (inclusive of taxes). Also available are mandarin orange, green tea and lemon, mango jasmine, rum and strawberry Chinese New Year Chocolate Pralines for P88 each (inclusive of taxes).

Another tradition is also highlighted from 9 to 10 February. There will be a big and delicious platter waiting in the middle of The Lobby’s dining tables this Chinese New Year for guests eager to welcome the Year of the Dragon! First to be tossed into the platter are slices of smoked salmon, with everyone cheering nin nin yau yu (“let there be abundance every year”). Then the carrots go in, followed by a roar of hong wen dong tau (“good luck”).

Lo Hei

Then everyone puts in their chopsticks and mixes the ingredients together, tossing them as high as they can. This goes on for a while, as various components of the traditional Chinese New Year lo hei — or prosperity toss — are mixed and thrown in, and the higher they are mixed and lifted, the more good luck there will be in the new year. The Lobby guests will have the opportunity to participate in this festive lo hei ritual from 9 to 10 February. It is available for lunch and dinner at The Lobby for P5,888 (exclusive of taxes).

In Escolta, lunch is at P2,600 (adults) and P1,300 (children 6 to 12 years old) and dinner at P3,000 (adults) and P1,500 (children 6 to 12 years old). Call The Peninsula Manila at +63 2 8887 2888 ext. 6694 (Restaurant Reservations), or email [email protected] or visit peninsula.com.