Year of The Tiger

This is the start of the Chinese New Year. It is a festive time full of fun and family. Of course food figure prominently in it as it does in other New years around th world. It’s not the usual Chinese that Americans are used to be it is the Chinese food of tradition that stretches across generations and centuries.
We may be used to egg rolls and General Tso’s Chicken along with fortune cookies. However traditional Chinese food especially holiday food is entirely different. It’s like the difference between Italian American and real Italian foods. Almost every new year’s dish is made with the ingredients that sound like the words, fortune, happiness, longevity and prosperity. The dish hoe see fat choy which is hair seaweed sounds close to the phrase ‘wealth and good business.” Lotus roots are eaten because their Chinese name lin ngao sound s like abundance year after year. Oranges and tangerines are given put to symbolize hope for gold or wealth in the upcoming year.
Another interesting facet of the holiday is that New Year’s Day is always started off with an vegetarian meal such as bamboo shoots , bean sprouts and mushrooms. This is to basically “shake off the excesses of the partying and heavy eating of New Year’s Eve.. On the second day which is also important, called Commencement Day meat and fish ball are served to symbolize the together of the family, an important feature in Chinese life. There are also several other day for the holiday goes on for two weeks. All are full of meaningful foods as well as preparations. Food cannot be cut , diced or minced because it symbolizes separatism and fighting. Also knives are not used during this period as well .
This Year of the Tiger is an important one for all the Chinese living here an d in China. It should be celebrated with the appropriate and traditional foods. It’s also a continuation of traditions that went on long before any other new year’s,