 Gongxi Facai (pronounced gung hay fat choy): Chinese for “Happiness and fortune to you!” This greeting is gleefully exchanged amongst millions of Chinese across the world during New Year’s celebrations. Based on the lunar calendar, this important holiday lasts for 15 days and typically falls between mid-January and mid-February. For 2007, festivities begin on February 18th and celebrate the Year of the Pig.
In preparation, Chinese families clean and decorate their houses, buy new clothes and give presents. On New Year’s Eve, families gather for a reunion dinner where symbolic “goodness” foods are served. These include oranges for good luck; chicken for prosperity; crab and fresh fish for abundance; bowls of noodles for long life; spring rolls or vegetables, cut into coin shapes, for wealth; and dessert, such as sweet rice balls or dumplings, for sweetness. Games, fireworks and the dragon dance at the New Year’s Parade highlight the day.
Celebrate Chinese New Year at home or in your child’s classroom. Activity ideas include:
* Make a dragon mask and have a parade through the halls.
* Read The Dancing Dragon by Marcia Vaughan or Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds, Leslie Swartz & The Children’s Museum, Boston.
* Take your family to a local Chinese New Year Parade; found in most major cities from February 18 to March 3, 2007.
* Explore your zodiac sign. For example, people born in the Year of the Pig (1911, 1923,1935,1947,1959,1971,1983,1995, 2007) are nice and possess impeccable manners and taste (see chinese.astrology.com).
* Eat a meal of long life noodles.
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| This dish is just as symbolic as birthday cakes are in the United States. Unlike Americans, many Chinese do not celebrate individual birthdays. Instead, everyone turns a year older and celebrates on New Years. Follow Chinese custom by not breaking the noodles as you eat. This usually incites laughter (but hopefully not too much of a mess). |
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound soba noodles (or pasta of choice), cooked
1 bunch green onions
2 cups snow peas
1 red pepper
1 cup baby corn
1 cup bamboo shoots
1 cup water chestnuts
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger
1 cup bean sprouts
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. sesame oil
2 Tbsp. oyster sauce
3 Tbsp. peanut butter
1 lime
salt and pepper (to taste)
**chicken, tofu, pork or beef optional** |
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METHOD:
1. Place the cooked noodles into large mixing bowl.
2. Dice green onions, snow peas, red pepper, baby corn, bamboo shoots, and water chestnuts and add to bowl.
3. Peel and mince ginger and add to bowl.
4. Add the bean sprouts, soy sauce, sesame oil, oyster sauce, and peanut butter to noodles, a little at a time, until the desired taste is achieved.
5. Cut the lime in half and squeeze juice into bowl.
6. Add salt and pepper, thoroughly mix and eat!
This recipe can be made in advance and refrigerated to eat cold. Or the noodles can be stir-fried with the vegetables for a hot dish.
Serves 6 to 8 |
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