Lunar New Year: 2010

Get out your broom and sweep away the past: the Year of the Tiger begins February 14.

The Third Sign of the Zodiac

According to Chinese astrology, 2010 is the Year of the Tiger.

People born in Tiger years are bold and courageous natural leaders. They love the limelight, yet are gracious and unselfish.

Although their tempers can be quick, there's nothing like a Tiger if you need someone to champion your cause.

You're a Tiger if you were born in 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, or 1998.

Famous Tigers include Agatha Christie, Bill Murray, Hugh Hefner, Jay Leno, Jim Carrey, Jodie Foster, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Marilyn Monroe, Penelope Cruz, Queen Elizabeth II, Stevie Wonder, Tennessee Williams, Tom Cruise, Wesley Snipes, and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham.

Go get 'em, Tigers!

Host your own Lunar New Year party

Take part in the traditions, fun, and virtues of this important holiday.

Help your kids make snakes and lanterns with colorful crepe paper, and hang them throughout your house.

Make homemade fortune cookies and write creative fortunes to delight and amuse your guests.

At the stroke of midnight, open your doors and windows to release the stresses of the old year.

You'll know that the party has officially begun when you see people dressed in red and hear fireworks exploding in the street--both intended to scare off a legendary man-eating beast, Nian.

While many cultures around the world celebrate New Year's as a time of renewal, the Lunar New Year means that and much more. It is a time to gather with family, honor ancestors and celebrate with a big banquet that symbolizes prosperity in the New Year.

Food Symbolism

Most of the dishes served during Lunar New Year (also known as Spring Festival) are symbolic of something positive and hopeful.

Chicken and fish, for example, symbolize happiness and prosperity--especially when served whole.
Dishes made with oranges represent wealth and good fortune because they are China's most plentiful fruit.
Noodles represent longevity: therefore, they should never be cut!
Duck symbolizes fidelity, while eggs signify fertility.
Bean curd or tofu, however, is avoided because its white color suggests death and misfortune.

Dishes are also chosen based on homonyms--words that either are spelled the same or sound the same as other words. Fish (yu) is served because it sounds similar to the Chinese word for plenty; whole fish represents abundance. Turnips are cooked because their name (cai tou) also means "good luck."

Another popular Lunar New Year dish is jiaozi, dumplings boiled in water. In some areas of China, coins are placed in the center of jiaozi. Whoever bites into one of these dumplings will have an exceptionally lucky year.

Try some of these lucky Chinese dishes for a prosperous year to come:

Comments

Add a comment

Linda54494

Feb. 8, 2010 9:15 am

My daughter like chineese food but I have to avoid fish and seafood but the chicken and cookes and candy and cake look real good.

Katherine1

Feb. 10, 2010 9:41 am

LeVecco's in Reno, Nevada has the best Risotto I have ever tasted. There chef makes it for me to take to the office for lunch. It is truly a grand dish.

Add a comment