From one New Year to the next…Chinese New Year!
With one of the largest Chinese communities outside of China, the island of Penang is already awash in flashy red, one week before the new moon that marks the beginning of the 15-day Spring Festival. Red lanterns strung above the streets; red shirts and dresses displayed in shop windows; red couplets and red paper-cuts adorning homes.
Not just the color of the New Year, but the sounds. The drums and cymbals accompanying lion dance troupes as they perform in businesses and homes, bringing luck and wealth for the New Year. The blaring and thumping of Chinese New Year songs as shoppers fill their carts with boxes of mandarin oranges and cases of Jolly Shandy and Tiger Beer. The crackling and booming at night of illegal firecrackers and fireworks.
This year is special. This is the
Year of the Dragon.
To celebrate the beginning of the Year of the Dragon – an auspicious year of success and happiness - we will be introducing a series of Chinese dishes over the next month for you to try. Some are traditional, some fusion, but each with flavors and elements of Chinese culture.
Let’s get started! Try one of these excellent recipes:
7 comments:
Chinese New Year always seems like such a merry affair to me. And pineapple tarts are on my to-do list!
Great post! Love everything in it :)
Reese and Mark, thank you for including my recipes! What a great roundup to celebrate CNY! The year of dragon MY YEAR! =) I wish I am in Asia to celebrate this time - it's more festive than here you know... I hope you are having a wonderful holiday time!
Absolutely! It is one of the most boisterous festivals. Let us know once you get a hand on pineapple tarts. They are the essential for Chinese New Year! My mom just spent three full days making pineapple tarts for family & friends. I better share the recipe soon before they are gone.
Thanks Ann. Good time to try everything since CNY is almost a month-long celebration.
Sounds like this is going to be a great year for you, Nami. Of all the animals sign, dragon is definitely the most special one with its mythical power and symbolism:) It will be really fun to be in Asia (at least places with large Chinese community like Shen's home country) during this time. Thank you for your wishes. We can't wait for the crackling sound of firecrackers!
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