East and Southeast Asians around the world are preparing for the upcoming Lunar New Year festivities, set to begin on February 17 and continue for a span of 15 days. Each year in the Chinese zodiac is linked to an element, and as the Year of the Fire Horse approaches, it symbolizes a time for significant life transformations. This period is associated with bold actions, personal development, and a heightened pace of life.
Given that the Year of the Fire Horse occurs only once every 60 years in the zodiac cycle, many individuals may not experience it again in their lifetime. To commemorate this special occasion, we had the pleasure of speaking with author Angela Hui, who shared her fondness for Lunar New Year celebrations and the cherished moments spent with loved ones, along with a delightful recipe that you can easily recreate at home.
Before delving into the culinary realm, why not try your hand at crafting a paper fire horse using the traditional Chinese art of origami, courtesy of Tesco? Simply follow the instructions in the video and unleash your creativity.
Lunar New Year holds a special place as one of the most significant holidays, often referred to as “Asian Christmas” for many families. It is a time for family gatherings, paying homage to ancestors, and welcoming blessings of prosperity.
For many, a highlight of returning home during this festive season is the opportunity to cook alongside family members. In my case, cooking with my talented chef mother is a bonding experience like no other. Food serves as our shared language, enabling us to communicate without words. As we prepare meals together, time seems to stand still, allowing us to engage in casual chatter while folding dumplings or preparing ingredients side by side in the kitchen. The unspoken rhythm of working together brings a sense of comfort and connection that transcends verbal communication.
Food plays a central role in shaping our Lunar New Year celebrations. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes laden with auspicious meanings is customary to herald in a year of hope and good fortune. The process of planning our family’s Lunar New Year menu becomes a joyous affair as we exchange recipe ideas, photos, videos, and voice messages. “We must have whole steamed fish,” my mother insists, citing the auspicious phrase “年年有余, leen leen yow yu,” which signifies a wish for abundance and surplus year after year.
The conversation continues as we discuss the symbolism behind dumplings, representing wealth and prosperity. The dumpling’s shape mirrors ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and abundance. We even contemplate creating money bag dumplings using cabbage wrappers, adding a creative twist to the traditional dish. After much deliberation and brainstorming, we finalize a menu consisting of eight dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, and completeness.
To help you partake in the culinary traditions of Lunar New Year, I am sharing my recipe for steamed fish below. All the necessary ingredients for this delectable dish can be conveniently sourced from Tesco.
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As we embrace a year filled with potential for transformation, personal growth, and an accelerated pace of life, it is essential to remember the essence of Lunar New Year – a time to slow down, reunite with family, bid farewell to the old year, usher in prosperity for the new one, and of course, make room for indulging in delicious feasts.