Chinese New Year Celebrations Mean Food

It’s Chinese New Year 2013, and many Asian cultures around the world, from China to Vietnam (where they celebrate Tet), to Chinatowns and Asian enclaves in the United States, families are celebrating the Year of the Snake with firecrackers and feasting.

Usher in the Chinese New Year with some of these lucky dishes:

Long Noodles Mean a Long Life!

Long noodles symbolize longevity and are always a staple of Lunar New Year feasts. Stirfry the noodles with oyster sauce and vegetables, but never break them into shorter strands!

Sounds Like Grandchildren Are in the Future

Looking to make the subtle suggestion to your kids that you want grandchildren? How about making some sweet and sour pork? The Chinese like foods that sound familiar to pleasing words. The Chinese word for “sour” sounds like “grandchildren” in Cantonese.

Fish for a ‘Wish’

The Chinese word for ‘fish’ sounds like wish and abundance. Serve a steamed whole fish for an abundant new year.

Nian Go

These sweet and glutinous rice cakes are considered auspicious during the New Year. A Chinese New Year banquet is never complete without the traditional Nian Go. It has long been considered lucky because the name sounds like "higher year."

Oranges

The sweetness of oranges or tangerines symbolize luck and wealth. That is why oranges are often served at the end of a meal.

Swampscott has several restaurants that serve Chinese food. They include: China Green, Yan's China Bistro, Gourmet Garden and Aikia Steakhouse.

If you want to shop fr ingredients to cook your own Asian fare, try New Angkor Thom Market in Lynn, MA | 333 Essex St.

Their soups are really good.

The Chinese New Year is considered the most important of Chinese holidays, the lunar new year celebration  - also called the Spring Festival –  begins on the first day of the lunar calendar (this year on Monday, Feb. 10) and ends on the first day of the full moon (Sunday, Feb. 24).

On the eve of the lunar new year families gather together to enjoy a meal full of foods considered lucky. Children and young, unmarried individuals also receive red envelopes filled with money.

The Snake years are sixth in the Chinese 12-year cycle. Those born in 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989 and 2001 were born in the year of the snake.

According to Chinese folklore, people born in these years are contemplative and generally private people. They are described as very cunning, manipulative people who will plot to get what they want, especially in the work environment. They are often viewed as poor communicators and very possessive. But snakes can be very charming and generous people.

Famous people born in the year of the snake include Oprah Winfrey, Sara Jessica Parker, Picasso, Martha Stewart and Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Chinese Zodiac Animals

Whats your birth year?

Horse

• 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906

Ram

• 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907

Monkey

• 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908

Rooster

• 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909

Dog

• 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910

Pig

• 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911

Rat

• 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912, 1900

Ox

• 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925, 1913, 1901

Tiger

• 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914, 1902

Rabbit

• 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915, 1903

Dragon

• 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916, 1904

Snake

• 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917, 1905