2009 is the year of the Ox in Chinese Zodiac and today is officially Chinese New Year! So since my floors theme this semester is the Great Wall of China and I have my floor social tonight I am doing a Chinese new year theme to it. I am serving almond cookies,plums, oranges and vegetables(carrots,buk choy,bamboo shoots, lotus root,shitaki mushrooms,ginger and garlic)with Caton-style noodles in sesame soy sauce, it should be yummy!
I am also going to put red paper down on the table and have red cups for everyone to drink out of since red is the color for luck and happiness in China.Also the food that I chose to make are traditional Chinese New year food.In Chinese culture most foods have a symbolic meaning yearround and it is based on balancing your "Chi" or they have a meaning about life in general.On New Year these symbolic are even more important.It is a Buddhist tradition that no animal or fish should be killed on the first day of the lunar year. Vegetables are considered to be purifying.
Noodles are symbolic of a longlife or longevity and it is thought of as bad luck to cut the noodle on New years.
Oranges are symbolic of wealth.
lotus root symbolizes abundance, and purity of the body,mind and spirit.
Garlic and chives symbolize eternity
mushrooms symbolize a long life,happiness and rebirth.
Bamboo shoots symbolize wealth
The almond cookies symbolize a sweet life and their round shape symbolize the family reunion.
Bean curd, or tofu, is never included in a Chinese New Year menu because white represents death and misfortune.
I plan to post a picture or two of the food just so everyone can see it.Guess thats about it for now since its 1am and I should be going to bed.
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