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Cong Hei Fat Choi!
19 January 2010
It’s time to ring out the Year of the Ox, and welcome the Year of the Tiger. Yes, it’s getting close to the Chinese New Year. I adore good Chinese food. (The operative word being ‘good.’) So often, though, it’s laden with over used oil, producing odors more reminiscent of the street carts camped outside office buildings during the lunch hours I spent in Center City Philadelphia. That’s not a good thing to recall. Perhaps, it’s just my own little hang up, but the thought of eating food from those carts skeeved me, and when I have had food from various Chinese eateries, there are times that the rancid or burned oil taste and smell has been enough to induce my gag reflex. I don’t want heavy and greasy. I want fresh, bright, and, dare I say, authentic? (Although, I wouldn’t know whether it’s authentic, just that it tastes good.)
I researched Wikipedia about the Chinese calendar, and the celebrations and traditions related to the new year celebration. I never really cared enough to delve further into it than ordering some really good Chinese food in years passed, but for now I’m interested. I can do my fair share of stir-fry, but I never follow a recipe for it, and am well aware that there’s more to Chinese food than getting out my wok.
Here are some facts that were new to me. For instance, I always knew that the Chinese new year celebration lasted longer than just a couple of days, but I never knew what event marked the passing of any given year. The celebration lasts for 15 days, beginning on the new moon of the first month, and ending with the Lantern Festival on the full moon. This coming Chinese new year begins February 14, 2010, and lasts until February 28. I’m not up on any of the details in the least, but I do know that their calendar is based upon solar and lunar cycles, thus explaining why the dates are always different on our conventional calendar.
Many traditions have been in place regarding what to serve, for whom to serve it, and for what reasons (whether for luck, prosperity, health … the usual good tidings when entering a new year.) The initial celebratory meal is in honor of family, loved ones, and close loved ones who have departed. Then, the celebrations continue until the full moon on the last day, when the more notable Festival of Lanterns takes place.
Seafood plays a significant role in the festivities on the first night, representing good luck. For the larger feasts, families would serve 9 different fishes (9 being a lucky number in Chinese culture). And, in case you were wondering, the fish should be presented in as whole a manner as possible. Just goes back to that luck thing. Almost like not wanting to break a mirror; for this, you don’t want to ‘break’ the fish. (OK, I’m not sure about that, but it’s my take on it.)
There are other things to serve, as well, to which I would not have access without quite a bit of effort. Honestly, I am certain many of the items may make me a little squeamish. I was surprised to learn that tofu is not served. The reason being that its color signifies misfortune. Hey, think about it. No matter how superstitious anyone may or may not be, would you want to take a chance with a food representing bad luck? I’m happy to take my chances with disobeying instructions to forward emails to 12 friends within 7 minutes so as to have 3 wishes come true by noon the next day, but with something like Chinese culture … uh uh. Let’s just avoid the tofu for this celebration. Beyond that, I’m more concerned with how to plan a party for such a celebration. It won’t be authentic, but at least we can pretend, and besides … I’m not Chinese - I’m just having fun while admiring the culture.
Since the first day of this new year’s celebration is Valentine’s Day for our part of the world, it could actually make for a much better day for those of us who don’t care one way or the other about Valentine’s Day. Even having been married for close to 13 years, I still nearly despise Valentine’s Day and the ridiculously overstated sentiments. Another little fact I dug up is that the Chinese equivalent of Valentine’s Day isn’t on February 14th, anyway. That happens to fall on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar. (This year, that works out to be August 16, in case you care to know. There‘s a whole legend associated with it, but I won’t get into that here.)
Do something with this. It’s an excuse to revisit the resolutions you just made on January 1, or to resolve not to make any resolutions - again. Set a festive atmosphere for all of it by stringing up some Chinese lanterns. Most people (myself included) are suckers for ambient lighting. Then, for kicks and to keep things light and fun, get to a local craft store or Chinese restaurant and pick up various sizes of boxed food containers. Even cheat and order your favorite Chinese take-out. Should you be leaning toward a more formal presentation, go for it with Oriental serving platters and dishes, and of course, get out the chop sticks. Light votives, and lace flower arrangements with bamboo accents, or try to find some miniature bamboo plants. Anything to set that mood, thus putting all in a more positive focus for carrying ourselves through the year.
By all means, take advantage of this as a second chance opportunity for looking ahead to positive change, or just maintaining the positive energy within us all. Oh, and, “Cong Hei Fat Choi!”
References:
Chinese New Year. (April 2009). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year on 15 January 2010.
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