Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is celebrated all over the world. It marks the end of the coldest part of winter (maybe not true in Boston) and welcomes the spring. It is a multi-day celebration to bring good fortune to you and your loved ones. Here are some things you should know Chinese New Year.

Photo credit: ChineseNewYear.net

• The date of Chinese New Year follows the Chinese Lunar calendar which is associated with the movement of the moon.
• Chinese New Year is also known as the Spring festival.
• There are 12 animal zodiac signs. Legend says that long ago, the Jade Emperor wanted to select 12 zodiac animals to be his guards. Animals throughout China raced to the gates to meet the Emperor. The rat, the first to win the race, is known to be clever, quick thinkers, and successful. Find out your zodiac here.
• Firecrackers are used to ward off bad luck and a mythological monster named Nian.
• Red is a lucky color, and also wards off Nian. Lanterns, decorations, and clothing that are red will bring good luck into the New Year.
• It’s common for children to received red envelopes filled with money.
• Dancing lions (often seen in parades) are to chase away bad luck/spirits, and bring in good fortune.

Like most holidays, food is an important highlight that brings families and friends together. Here are some of our favorite recipes of common Chinese New Year dishes that you can enjoy! 

Fresh Vegetable Spring Rolls

Cut all your vegetables into matchsticks, and wrap ingredients of your choosing in rice paper wrappers. Check out the recipe for Garlic-Soy dipping sauce or a Spicy-Peanut dipping sauce. You can also check out this crispy mushroom spring roll with Non-Spicy-Peanut dipping sauce.

Hakurei Turnips on Soba Noodles

Add more nutrients to your next noodle dish by packing veggies in it! The dish is glazed with a sesame, soy, peanut, fish sauce flavor bomb! It's not spicy and reminiscent of Asian cooking flavors. 

Sesame Peanut Noodles

An easy dish to scale up for a family meal or scale down for 'dinner for 1' and uses Ingredients that you might find in your pantry.

Don’t miss Boston’s Chinese New Year parade on Sunday, February 13, 10am-3pm.