Maddy Potts2012 is the 4,709th Chinese year, and the Year of the Dragon. Special, because it’s the only mythical creature in the zodiac, the Dragon’s motto is “I Reign” and its birthstone is the red ruby. According to legend, the celebration of Chinese New Year has its origins in a centuries-old battle between villagers and a mythical dragon-like beast called the Nian.
On the first day of each New Year the Nian would come down from the mountains and eat the villagers’ crops, livestock and young children. In an attempt to protect themselves, the villagers would place food outside their doors on New Year’s Eve and lock their families inside, in the hope that the Nian would eat the offerings and spare the children.
But one year, a wise man gathered all the people of his village together and told them that it was their panic that made the Nian so bold and furious, and if they were going to defeat it they would have to work together to frighten it away. The next time the Nian appeared, the villagers were ready for him; they beat drums and gongs, burnt bamboo and set off fireworks, they wore red and sang loudly to scare the monster away. Everywhere the Nian went it was terrified by the loud noises, and never came back again. Eventually it was captured by Hongjun Laozu, a Taoist monk, and became Hongjun Laozu’s mount.
To this day Chinese New Year remains the most important traditional Chinese holiday in the calendar. Each Chinese New Year’s Eve, families and friends unite for an annual reunion dinner with decorations, presents, fireworks and feasting. And while its origins may not fit with many of our Western belief systems, its message is one that we can all embrace: reconciliation, forgiveness, letting go of grudges and bitterness, embracing the new and sincerely wishing peace and happiness for everyone.
If you’d like to embody the spirit of Chinese New Year and have your own authentic Eve celebration on 22 January with friends and family, her are our tips to make it special.
For the best New Year’s Eve party that runs effortlessly smoothly, you’ll need to maximise your good luck according to ancient Chinese tradition, by imposing a strict red dress code, and inviting eight guests.
Old cardboard tubing painted red and decorated with gold Chinese lettering makes a somewhat more sedate alternative to traditional firecrackers. Using a hole punch and gold ribbon, they can be strung together to make garlands and hung in windows or around doorframes.
Chinese paper cuts have been a traditional method of New Year decorations for centuries, but simple versions can be easily made at home. On an A4 sheet of red paper, measure out a border, about an inch thick, around each edge. Then sketch out a basic dragon design that meets the border – there are plenty of templates available online if you’re not sure your art skills are up to the challenge! Using sharp scissors, snip out all the gaps and fix a sheet of white tissue paper to the back (this will make the paper cut glow when there’s light behind it). Stick the pieces to window panes, or prop up in front of tea lights (with a suitable distance between them to avoid the paper cut inconveniently igniting…).
The lucky red envelopes containing money are an important part of Chinese New Year. Although they’re traditionally given the morning of New Year’s Day, you can incorporate them into your evening feast instead. If you’d rather not gift money, instead write down your good wishes for your recipient, be they success, good health, joy or love.
The feast is the central part of any good Chinese New Year’s Eve, and if your oriental food usually arrives in a foil container, it’s a great opportunity to try out some traditional dishes for yourself.
Jau Gok, also known as Pot Stickers, are rice dough dumplings that are thought to bring prosperity to the eater. The pastry, called ‘wrappers’ can be bought from any specialist Supermarket, and with these ready-made all you need to do is choose your filling, seal up the dumpling with egg wash and boil until they float to the top of the pan. For a traditional feel, fry together minced pork and spring onion with oyster sauce, or substitute finely chopped mushroom for a vegetarian spin. Add a selection of dipping sauces of varying heats to keep all your guests happy!
If you choose to serve noodles with your Jau Gok feast, be sure to leave them uncut, as these represent long, happy lives, and it’s terribly unlucky to eat short noodles on New Year’s Eve!
For a sweet end to your meal, you can adapt your Jau Gok recipe by using desiccated coconut and sugar, and then frying the dumplings in sunflower oil, for a sweet hit that’s crunchy, sticky and moreish. You could also serve a Nian Gao (recipes available online), a cake made from glutinous rice. It’s eaten at this time of year for good luck because its Chinese name, “sticky cake” is a homophone for “better year”. Or if you’re still sticking to that January health kick, you can finish off the meal with Mandarin oranges which, in the Teochew dialect, is a homophone for “luck” and “fortune”.
