Welcome the year 4717! February 5th will be the first day of Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival as celebrated in China. (Other Oriental countries may have their own date for celebration.)
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| New Year Parade |
The festival lasts for 23 days. The year 4717 is the year of the pig, a year of fortune and good luck. You are a Pig Chinese Zodiac native if you were born in one of these years: 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019. Don't despair if you're a Pig. Remember they're extremely smart.
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| Pig Chinese Zodiac; year of the Pig |
Special foods are served during the festival. Not only do
the dishes themselves matter, but also the preparation. Ways of serving are
also important. New Year/Spring Festival foods include dumplings, fish, spring
rolls, and niangao. I’d no idea what niangao was until I turned to Google. It’s
a cake made from glutinous rice. At a restaurant near me it's called Sticky
Rice Cake. Each slice you eat will increase your fortune. I wish that was true
of chocolate!
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| Good Fortune Fruits |
Here are the 7 lucky foods to eat and their symbolism: Both
dumplings and spring rolls bring wealth; fish brings an increase in prosperity;
tangyuan (sweet rice balls) bring family togetherness; noodles bring longevity;
good fortune fruit brings fortune and fullness; niangao brings increase in
fortune or increased position at work. I wondered what good fortune fruit could
be. Actually, several are included for being round and lucky colors—oranges,
tangerines, etc.
Are you ready to celebrate another New Year?
Happy Chinese New Year to you, Caroline! I'm sure chocolate is included as lucky--especially the round shapes. Right? I'm going with it.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense to me, Jacquie. Hmmm, I think this is why we get into trouble, don't you?
DeleteInteresting post. Bring on the tangerines...and Happy Chinese New Year!
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot about it. Also missed Ground Hog day too. I must have my head in the sand. Thanks for the bit of history. Enjoyed your post.
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