Traditional and symbolic dishes for the ultimate new year feast.
| |  | | In The Belly of the Tiger | | | I hope you enjoyed my last newsletter, all about my love of dumplings from around the world (mostly from Asia). It was great fun to reminisce about my NYC childhood, venturing down to Chinatown to eat, yes, but also to take in the rich community filled with so much culture and history.
In all of my years, I have yet to experience a Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival. It is the most important festival in China and celebrated by many other countries. This year, the traditional two-week festival begins on February 1 and runs through February 15 as marked by the Lantern Festival. As it was written centuries ago, this date makes 2022 the Year of the Tiger.
I could write for days about all the wonderful and exciting things occurring during the two week celebration. Alas, I am happy to focus on the food, as it is a cornerstone of family gatherings and literally taking in good luck for a prosperous new year.
A week prior to the eve of the new year, called Little Year, the home is given a thorough cleaning and decorated in red in order to receive good luck. This makes the home ready for Lunar New Year's Eve and the reunion feast that will begin at sunset and run through midnight.
A Lunar New Year's Eve feast will consist of seven types of foods, each to bring a blessing for the new year. There will be fish for an increase in prosperity; dumplings and spring rolls for wealth; glutinous rice cakes for a higher income or position; sweet rice balls for family togetherness; noodles for longevity and happiness; good fortune fruit for fullness and wealth. The only new year food no-no is porridge as it is said it will bring poverty.
Knowing my love of all of these foods and now the significance of them for the Lunar New Year celebration, I am fortified to find a place to celebrate the Year of the Tiger and ingest some good luck. I am wishing all who celebrate Lunar New Year, xīnnián hǎo (sshin-nyen haoww), "new year goodness". | | | | | | | | | | | | | | The Spruce Eats Presents It's Elementary | | | | | | | | | |
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