Now living and working in Glasgow. Looking forward to write some new reviews.
Now living and working in Glasgow. Looking forward to write some new reviews.
Member since:29.11.2000
Reviews:106
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Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival, is the time of year when friends and family feast in celebration of throwing out the old and welcoming in the new – something we could all do with every now and then.
Most people start getting ready for Chinese New Year a month before. It is important to have all bills paid and the house spring-cleaned ready for a fresh start. Start the New Year with the house in a mess and your account in the red and you’ve set yourself a pattern for the next twelve months!
Traditionally Chinese New Year was a month long party, now it tends to last four or five days. Food is extremely important and before it is eaten it is offered up to the Gods. Food at the feasts can vary, but it normally includes steamed puddings, fried dumplings, seeds, rice balls and sweetened fruit and vegetables. Remember, however, that the ingredients have a symbolic meaning. Jiaozi dumplings, for example, are boiled in water and served in pairs. They signify two people sleeping together and having many sons! Eggs, as in many cultures, also signify fertility, and lotus seeds wish you many male offspring.
To avoid making a real Chinese New Year party faux pas then read on. If you are looking for a little happiness and all things good in your life, serve up prawns and dried oysters (ho xi). If your finances could do with a serious jolt over the next year make sure you eat lots of fai hai, otherwise known as angel hair seaweed. It is supposed to represent prosperity, but I wouldn’t hold out on winning the lottery after one bowl.
To avoid disasters banish tofu to the back of the fridge. Being white in colour it signifies death and misfortune if it is consumed during the New Year festivities. If you’ve been having a bit of a hard time, however, roll out the bamboo shoots. They basically wish everything well.
Oranges and tangerines are lucky fruits. Oranges and gold have the same pronunciation in Cantonese, so if they are presented as gifts in even numbers over the festival they are destined to bring wealth.
If you are looking for longevity then make sure you include lots of leafy mustard greens in your party plan. Noodles are also a symbol of long life, but it is considered very unlucky to chop up noodle strands.
Make sure you cook up a nice, big, fat fish, head and all. By eating half a fish on New Year’s Eve and saving the remainder to the next day, the Chinese believe you can transfer lots of luck to the next 12 months.
No celebration would be complete without a cake and Chinese New Year is no exception. Called Neen Gow, the cake is made from glutinous rice flour that symbolizes cohesiveness. It also comes scattered with peen tong or brown sugar, which represents the sweetness of life. Make sure your cake rises well and your luck will rise with it.
As preparation is important please keep these notes handy for next year and I am sure all will go well! A bit early I know but here’s eating our way to a prosperous 2002.
**OFF TOPIC** What do you mean you don't know how to install? Do you have a cd-writer but aren't sure how to install it into your tower? Cheers - Craig
moose 20.05.2001 23:41
Hey! Don't wish our time away too quickly!! Interesting opinion :-)
innocent 20.05.2001 23:22
The thing I don't get is that if I take time off work for Chinese New Year I get laughed at (not being Chinese)... but when a Chinese person takes our New Years day off work no one even picks up on it. Funny how life is... I'll stop moaning now, I just need a decent holiday that's all. Graham
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