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Facts • As the Chinese use the Lunar calendar for their festivals the date of Chinese New Year changes from year to year. The date corresponds to the new moon (black moon) in either late January or February. Traditionally celebrations last for fifteen days, ending on the date of the full moon. In China the public holiday lasts for three days and this is the biggest celebration of the year.
Food • Serving a whole chicken during the Chinese New Year season symbolizes family togetherness. • Noodles represent a long life; an old superstition says that it's bad luck to cut them. • Spring rolls and clams represent wealth because of their shapes, which resembles that of gold bars and bouillon. • It is very common to serve a lettuce wrap filled with other lucky food because it means rising fortune • Tangerines and oranges are passed out freely during Chinese New Year as the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth, respectively. • Fish also play a large role in festive celebrations. The word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance. As a result, on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the evening meal, symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year. For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year. • Dumplings are served are traditionally eaten on new years eve • Steamed cakes signify sweetness and a rich life for the whole family. It also means family unity and abundance.
Desserts • Sticky Cake (Nian Gao) this is China's most famous cake • Peking Dust fresh chestnuts are ground into fine pieces to represent the dust of the Mongolian dessert, and paired with whipped cream • Almond Cookies no Chinese New Year celebration would be complete without cookies! • Egg Custard Tarts served at Chinese bakeries and dim sum restaurants during the new year • Sesame Seed Balls (Zeen Doy)these are tasty balls of glutinous rice flour that filled with red bean paste and rolled in sesame seeds and fried. • Niango (rice cakes) • Sago tarts are made with lotus seeds. Lotus seeds are often given to married couples to wish them good luck • Five –spice peanuts ,Peanuts symbolize longevity in Chinese culture. In this easy recipe the peanuts are coated in a syrupy mixture with brown sugar, corn syrup and five-spice powder.
ANIMALS • The animals of the Chinese New Year are the monkey, snake, horse, rooster, dragon, ram, tiger, rabbit, dog, pig, rat and ox. • The Lunar calendar is a 12 year cycle, eg tiger, rat, rabbit and so on. • The Rat is full of charm, • Ox keeper of tradition, • Tiger is brave, • Rabbit is wise, • Dragon never cautious, • Snake seductive and mysterious,
Continued • Horse is wild and free, • Ram is gentle and docile, • Monkey clever and quick-witted, • Rooster is independent, • Dog noble and true, • Boar pure of heart. • 2012 is the year of the DRAGON!! • 2013 will be the year of the SNAKE!!!
The history Welcome to the history of Chinese new year. Chinese new year originated in San Francisco when they discovered gold. Out of 5O,OOO people most of them were Chinese and seeking a better life.
The History • In 1849 with the discovery of gold 50,000 had come to San Francisco to secure their future • By the 1860s the residents of San Francisco, Chinatown were eager to share their culture with others • The Chinese decided to do the American style of celebration “parade” • So they decided to walk down what today is Grant Avenue with lanterns , masks , flags and drums
Celebration and traditions • The beginning of the Chinese New Year started with the fight against a mythical beast called Nian • Red envelopes are given to children and unmarried adults the money in the envelope is used by them to buy holiday treats. • People paint doors and windows red and hang up paper cut outs • The family starts out to say greetings from door to door, first to their relatives and then to their neighbours. • After dinner the family stays up plays cards ,or watches TV together • During the whole day and night lights are left on and all windows are left open • After the Chinese New Year, families and friends to parade to a public place with lanterns in hand for a feast and riddle-guessing games. • At midnight, fireworks will light up the whole sky
Do’s and don’ts on new years day • Greet each other with “ Gung Hey Fat Choy which means “ Wishing you prosperity and wealth”. • Wear brand new clothes preferably in red. Children wear new clothes and new shoes. • Don’t wash your hair • Don’t sweep the floor • Don’t drop your chopsticks • Don’t mention death • Don’t borrow or lend money • Don’t break any dishes
Customs • Fire works were first made by putting gun powder in bamboo sticks to scare of Nian • Offer a Sacrifice to the Kitchen God - Many families have a poster of the Kitchen God in their kitchen. The custom is to offer a ceremonial sacrifice to the Kitchen God, to make sure that he gives a good report on the family's behavior when he returns to heaven. Sticky Cake (Nian Gao) is popular, or children may rub honey on him. • Families put lights up outside their homes, rather like our Christmas lights. • Everyone paints their doors and windows red
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