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Are you a "PIG"?
If you're 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 (continue in multiples of 12) years of age this year, then YES, you are a PIG and on February 18th, 2007, it is time for you to eat more. According to the ancient Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese New Year is this weekend (dates change every year) and many families around the world have already begun preparing for the festivities which is traditionally a 15-day celebration. Not only is there an emphasis on family, gatherings, Buddhist traditions, red envelopes (filled with money; usually for the children or youngest generation of the family), etc. but most importantly, there has to be great food AND the correct types of food in order to have good fortune in the coming year ahead.
So, with all the choices out there of food and "Nian Huo", or New Year's products, which ones are deemed "mandatory" and which ones are mere delicacies that you can go without and still ensure a wishful, prosperous new year? Well here's
"Chinese New Year's food deciphered!"
From About.com
What do these foods symbolize?
Bamboo shoots - wealth, used in variety of dishes
Black moss seaweed - wealth, in savoury or sweet desserts
Dried Bean Curd - happiness (note: fresh tofu is not served because the color white symbolizes death and misfortune in Chinese culture).
Chicken - happiness and marriage (especially when served with "dragon foods," such as lobster. Family reunion (if served whole)
Egg Rolls - wealth, not to be confused with Chinese food take-outs, these fall under the "cookies/snacks" category and are sold in packs in boxes or cans
Fish served whole - prosperity, togetherness
Lychee nuts - close family ties
Noodles uncut - Longevity, a long life
Oranges - wealth, usually placed on the sacred family alter (along with incense) as an offering to the ancestors
Peanuts - a long life, usually placed on living room tables as a snack during the celebration or found in savoury dishes
Pomelo - abundance, prosperity, having children, placed on alter as well
Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. are also placed around the house as snacks- having a large number of children
Tangerines - offered on the family alter along with other fruits and snacks in wish of a round, no bumps, and complete year
Also, perhaps my favourite New Year's indulgence, is the Nian Gao or Chinese New Year Cake (also called Sticky Cake or Steamed Chinese Fruitcake); it is made with glutinous rice flour and filled with an assortment of dried fruits and is usually eaten after dinner as a dessert. It can be panfried after being dipped in an egg/flour batter or steamed. A charming Chinese custom is for families to serve Nian Gao to the ‘Chinese Kitchen God’ a mythical god who returns to heaven every new year to report on a family’s behavior during the year. The more tasty the cake, the better the report!
Jiao Zi or dumplings are also served after midnight on Chinese New Year's Eve and stands for wealth. Families usually hide coins in a few dumplings as a symbol of the luck ahead for the ones who finds them in their Jiao Zi.
Gong Shi Fa Chai (Mandarin) or Gong Hay Fat Choy (Cantonese) everyone!!!!
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Comments
You might want to be more careful about generalizations. "Asians" does not equal "Chinese". The Japanese do not celebrate Lunar New Year and have new year's on January 1st. Also if you researched further "Lunar New Year" is more appropriate since other cultures like Native cultures also celebrate the lunar new year, including this weekend.
Good point. But I think being picky about sensitive or controversial words defining race/culture is probably beyond our scope of our discussion here. "Chinese" does not equal Taiwanese either, it is still called Chinese New year. It's a confusing title because does "Chinese" refer to Cantonese (HK) or people from China. "Chinese New Years" is a culturally given title to yes the traditional name Lunar New Year, but I didn't make that up.
Let's not hung up on the definition of "Asian" ... Europeans invented this term thousands of years ago to mean "everything not-Europe." Both of you are right. Many East and almost all South and Southeast Asians do not celebrate Chinese/Lunar New Year; however, many countries who have been culturally influenced by China do, such as South Korea and Vietnam. And as there are immigrant families of Chinese-descent in every corner of the world, this is a globally celebrated event ... especially in Vancouver. No different from when we celebrate our Cherry Blossom Festival ... technically Japanese, but who cares? More importantly, it's Very Vancouver.
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Posted by ethnic coolFebruary 15, 2007 at 10:54 PM
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