Fun At-Home Ways to Usher in The New Year!

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Given how 2020 has been for most of us in Beijing, especially after our city got over the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we had hoped that New Year’s celebrations would look much more like those in the good old pre-COVID-19 days. Unfortunately, with the new confirmed cases, Beijing has gone back to implementing safety and prevention protocols. Hundreds of thousands of Beijing’s residents in Shunyi and the rest of Beijing have been flooding testing centers to know their status. Additionally, bars, restaurants, and night clubs across the city which had initially advertised New Year’s Eve parties have since announced a change of plans as they are now only allowed to have no more than a ‘sitting capacity’ number of guests for their events, and this has meant that tickets for such events are now severely limited.

But never fear. Though your plans to have a far more glamorous, festive, maybe even tipsy New Year’s celebration this year might appear to be toast (no pun intended), you and your family might still be able to ring in the new year in fun, creative, equally festive, but safe ways.

Here are some ideas!

How Many Chinese Card Games Do You Know?

Ever heard of Dou dizhu, 斗地主? This particular game rose up during the Cultural Revolution, as a way of fighting against the landlord class, which was one of the “five black categories“. Its origins can be traced back to Hubei province. The nature of the game is that of shedding cards, with three players playing with a full deck of cards including the three jokers. Players start by ‘bidding’ for the landlord position. The one who wins takes the place of the landlord and has to play against the two other players who are now ‘peasants’, with the objective of being the first to get rid of all of the cards in their hand. Even though the history of this game is a rather dark one, it no longer holds the same cultural baggage and is a fun way of engaging in a game of teams with the kids or even among friends without having to fork out piles of cash.

For a full list of instructions, please scan the QR code below.

Information courtesy of AJ at Culture Yard.

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Drinking Games for The Entire Family!

Yes, I said drinking games, but for the entire family! I am by no means advising you to pull out the shot glasses, fill them to the brim with tequila and have the kids swig every time they fail to win a round of whatever game you are playing. Drinking games, far from being a preserve of drunk college students and merry revelers in bars and house parties, can be quite exciting for the entire family, even when the alcohol element is removed. Just replace the booze with a beverage that anyone in the family would loathe to drink and get to playing. Better yet, bypass the drink part entirely and get yourselves a nice big jar of stinky tofu! I promise you, the prospect of having even a piece of that would light a fire under even the least competitive member of the family!

1. Flip and Sip – The rules are as simple as you might imagine. Flip a coin and call it. If you get it right, pass it on to the next person to your left. If you get it wrong, however, you have to empty the contents of the glass in front of you (or have a nice juicy piece of stinky tofu!)

2. Jenga – Yet another classic! And as you would imagine, the premise is, every time anyone forfeits on pulling out a block, or knocks down the blocks drinks, or eats whatever is in front of them.

3. No-Beer Pong – This one gives you an opportunity to turn up the pressure, as in every cup you can vary the disgusting treat awaiting the loser of each round. Split into two teams, aim and throw ping pong balls into as many cups as you can, and watch in glee the horrified expression of the loser as they down whatever is in their cup.

We all have happy memories of hours spent playing board games both as kids and as adults. What could be better than getting stuck into one or more of these games to ring in the New Year? Earlier this summer, our Teen Takeover writer, Dorothy Asiedu, did a roundup of some of the best board games there are in the market and just how they are played. Here are just some of them.

1. Candy Land (Ages: 3+) – “This game is an all-time favorite, and 2-4 people can play at a time. Players are required to follow a rainbow path; the goal is to be the first to reach King Kandy’s castle. Players will encounter certain obstacles, such as cards that send you backward.”

2. Hasbro Connect 4 (Ages: 6+) –  “The goal of this 2-player game is to stack four discs together in any direction (vertical, horizontal, and diagonal). As long as a player gets four-in-a-row, they win. However, players should also attempt to block their opponent’s discs to prevent them from winning.”

3. Monopoly (Ages: 8+) – “During this game, all players roll two dice to move around the board. Players can buy and trade properties, allowing them to collect rent from opponents. Money gained can also be used to further develop real estate properties with houses and hotels. The ultimate goal is to earn money and purchase real estate in order to drive your opponents to bankruptcy.”

4. Marble Circuit (Ages: 8+) – If your kids are good at puzzles but sick of “baby games,” then this one could be excellent even if they’re under the suggested age. Deputy Manager Cindy Marie Jenkins allowed her kindergartner to try different games at a store one day, and they chose this one. It’s a test of math and logic, but mostly it’s good ‘ol trial and error with marbles. What’s bad about that?

2020 has not been the year any of us wanted or expected. But we are hoping for the year 2021 to be all that we wanted 2020 to be and more. For now, however, it is our responsibility to keep ourselves and those we love safe so we are able to have a proper celebration do-over next year.

To one and all, a happy and safe New Year!

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Photos: Unsplash, Pexels

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