By: Cynthia
Kurtz
Posted 1/30/2013
Be prepared for a big SGV style
celebration starting New Year’s Eve Saturday, February 9 as we usher in the
Year of the Snake. If you were born in 1953, 1965, 1977 or 2001 you were born
under the snake sign and 2013 will be a significant year for you.
People born during the year of
the snake are good in financial matters and business negotiations. This clever
calculating creature is quick to spot new opportunities and has the skills to
act on them.
The Chinese New Year or “Spring
Festival” is steeped in traditions. Food plays a central role in the
celebrations with the most important meal being the Family Reunion Dinner on
New Year’s Eve. Families come together for a lavish multi-course supper. If you
don’t have the time to plan and cook such a meal, no need to panic. Many
Chinese restaurants offer Reunion Dinner Packages so families can enjoy the
tradition with less fuss. The SGV is home to the best Chinese restaurants in
the United States.
Instead of champaign, the
“Jiaozi” dumpling plays the center role because its shape resembles a gold
nugget and represents prosperity. We have so many choices for good dumplings -
Flavor Garden in Alhambra, Fortune Dumpling in Monterey Park, Little Taipei in
Arcadia and Shang Ming in San Gabriel - to name just a few.
Gifts are also an important part
of the New Year celebration. Children receive red packets containing new
currency. Red is the color of new years and you’ll see paper-cutouts and
lanterns adorning stores and restaurants.
If you are fortunate enough to
be invited to participate in a celebration, be sure to take your hostess a gift
of mandarin oranges or “nian gao” (Chinese New Year’s cake). Eating a piece of this sweet rice flour
cake is thought to improve your luck for the year. No time to bake? Not a problem in the SGV.
Happy Bakery, Cathy Bakery and Kee Wah Bakery, all in the City of San Gabriel,
will be glad to bake for you.
A great way to join in the New
Year’s fun is to attend one of the festivals and parades being held in several
SGV cities. Plan a trip to Monterey Park on either February 2 or 3. You’ll find the New Year’s festival on Garvey
Avenue between Garfield and Alhambra.
Enjoy the booths with unique gifts and food. There will be lion and
dragon dancers with loud drums and cymbals to evict evil spirits and a large
fun zone for children.
The City of Alhambra’s
celebration is February 16 on Valley Blvd. between Garfield and Almansor. More than 250 booths will be open from 10 am
to 5 pm. There is fun, games and food for everyone. I am sure you can count on
hearing at least a few firecrackers signifying good luck.
For those of you who just can’t
imagine any New Year celebration without champaign, I have it on good authority
that dumplings and Champaign go very well together.
Gung Hay Fat Choy - Best wishes
and congratulations. Have a prosperous and good year.
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