Greg celebrated his first full-on Chinese New Year function. My aunt made way too much food as she does every Chinese New Year and we took a lot of it home. My uncle, as usual, tried to get people to drink with him. His favorite alcohol is a chinese rice wine that Greg swears is used to power small airplanes. The usual after-dinner entertainment is a game of mahjong. My cousins taught Greg how to play last time and he is better at it then I am. So when it was just the pros playing, they really kicked it into high gear, and suddenly, Greg was shocked to find himself losing in pros mode.
My Dad’s birthday is the day after Chinese New Year, so we had a cake for him. There is a very distinct style to how Asian cake and baked goods are made. I love it!
It’s the year of the pig and according to my family (I’m not sure if this is a common Chinese thing), if it is your birth year, you should be wearing something red close to your body at all times this year. So my brother got a lot of red underwear for Christmas.
A couple of other things my family tells me about Chinese New Years:
Dumplings are good foods to eat today. They are shaped like traditional Chinese currency, so they symbolize fortune. My aunt used to make them for dinner and tuck a coin in one of them, and all the kids would try to get the dumpling.
Fish is a good thing to eat over New Years, but not all of it. Fish represents surplus, so the leftover fish is eaten the next day, symbolizing having plenty for the year.
Rice cakes are traditional Chinese New Year desserts.
Shing Nian Quai Lu everyone! (Happy New Year)
appy New Year, Selena. Oh, and I’m very happy you won’t be using the dolphin escorts for your wedding! :0)
Katie Owen and Liam
Happy New Year,
A bunch of us celebrated by going to a Chinese demonstration festival at UD and then to Bon House. We stayed there till midnight and rung in the New Year with the owners who’s family was also there. It was cool.
Happy, happy,
Joanna
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! We celebrated with an attempt to make General Tso’s Chicken. Maybe next year I’ll make dumplings again…it’s been awhile since I’ve done them.
Happy New Year! I just have to say I love Mahjong and wish you guys were around to play.
Thanks for all the good wishes!
Whoa! We are SOOOOO playing Mah-Jongg together! I’ve been dying to find someone to play with!
This year is not only the year of the PIG, but also the year of the GOLDEN PIG. Based on the five elements, this piggy year falls on the GOLD element. It’s a good year to get married or to have a child, or even to change a job to make more money. Yes, for those who was born in the piggy year, whether was 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, or 72 years ago, better to wear something red all year round. Even a red string on the belly will do. (Hum?) To be a Chinese daughter or son, or son-in-law in most cases, is not as easy as to be a Chinese parent. However, the passion and affection from most Chinese parent is like a cool spring flow from high mountains, endless and sweet.
Happy New Year!
Selena, that all sounds really cool… so when I texted you, you were probably in airplane fuel, mahjong heaven- I was in pain from stuffing myself with sesame chicken and crab wontons and dumplings : )
For some reason, in all my cultural obtusity (?), I envisioned you sitting at home as if to watch the ball drop on December 31st… which is not at all what all the people running the restaurant were doing- but they did shout Happy New Year at midnight… or what you said : )
I think, if I were a guy like Dean, I would hate that tradition of the red underwear… haha- but that’s hilarious.
And hey, it’s apparently a good year to get married- so rock on!
Not sure why my thoughts are so disjointed… just wanted to join in the festivities!