{"id":17516,"date":"2015-02-09T06:00:21","date_gmt":"2015-02-09T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/?p=17516"},"modified":"2021-02-04T10:33:05","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T18:33:05","slug":"chinese-new-year-year-of-the-goatsheep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shescookin.com\/chinese-new-year-year-of-the-goatsheep\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese New Year 2015 – Year of the Goat\/Sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a><\/p>\n It’s exciting to be in China during the Chinese New Year. Last week I was in Hong Kong and Shanghai with my husband and preparations for the two-week celebration were in full swing as Chinese New Year 2015 begins on Thursday, February 19th. Also known as Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, as it’s most commonly referred to in the West (and now the East, from what I’ve seen), is the most important traditional festival, and an important celebration for families in China. It is an official public holiday and most Chinese have 8 days off work, much like our Christmas\/New Year holiday.<\/p>\n The beginning of Chinese New Year varies from year to year, but always falls somewhere in the period January 21 to February 20, and is based on the lunar calendar vs. the solar calendar.<\/p>\n The Chinese lunar calendar is associated with the Chinese zodiac, which has 12 animal signs: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Each animal represents a year in a 12-year cycle – \u00a02015 is the Year of the Goat (or the Sheep, depending on nationality).<\/p>\n Everywhere in Hong Kong and Shanghai, there were vibrant displays of the symbols associated with Chinese New Year. Red is the color of Spring Festival because it is considered auspicious – everywhere bright red paper lanterns, predominately red floral arrangements, red paper-wrapped fireworks, and shiny gold-emblazoned red envelopes hanging from miniature green trees heavy with tangerines or kumquats.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n I didn’t see as much public art depicting a Goat (or Sheep) this year as I saw Horses last year, and the images I did see around the city, and those that I found online, resembled a Big Horn Sheep or ram more than a goat to me, but oh well.<\/p>\n Maybe it’s because old superstitions surround those born in the Year of the Sheep. The lifestyle section of the China Times had a full page article of Q&A with a number of young Chinese professionals to gauge their belief on this subject. As a whole, the younger generation places little credence on the beliefs that plague the sign of the Sheep: “sheep are meek creatures, raised for nothing more than slaughter. Babies born in the Year of the Sheep, therefore, will grow up to be followers rather than leaders, according to some superstitions. The children are destined for heartbreak and failed marriages, and they will be unlucky in business, many Chinese believe. One popular folk saying holds that only one out of 10 people born in the Year of the Sheep finds happiness.” {Source: CNN<\/a>}<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Gong Zi Fa Cai<\/em>! Happy New Year :))<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0Photo credit: Harry the bellman who chose his American name because he loves Harry Potter!<\/p>\n Certain foods are eaten during Chinese New Year because of their symbolic meanings either based on their names or appearance. Fish is a must for Chinese New Year as the Chinese word for fish (\u9c7c y\u00fa \/yoo\/) sounds like the word for surplus (\u4f59 y\u00fa). Eating fish is believed to bring a surplus of money and good luck in the coming year. Chinese and other Asian people eat whole fish, but there are a lot of Americans who prefer not to have the head on or don’t know how to cook whole fish. It’s very easy \u2014check out this easy recipe for Grilled Whole Red Snapper<\/a>. Another option is to grill or broil a side of wild salmon, or make these Baked Wild Salmon Egg Rolls.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Egg Roll wrappers can be found in the refrigerated deli or produce section of most grocery stores. There are usually instructions on the back of the package, but just in case, here is a visual on how to wrap the filling up to make an egg roll – very similar to a burrito, but if you’ve never made a burrito…<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n This is a very simple recipe with five main ingredients: \u00a0grilled wild Sockeye Salmon – fresh, wild, and sustainable for the best texture and flavor and grilled for a subtle smokiness and crispy skin, a package of broccoli slaw mix, teriyaki sauce, sesame oil, and, of course, egg roll wrappers.<\/p>\nAbout the Chinese Lunar Calendar<\/h2>\n
Red is the Color of Chinese New Year<\/h2>\n
Fish is a Traditional Chinese New Year Food<\/h2>\n
How to Make Egg Rolls<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/h2>\n
Baked Salmon Egg Roll Recipe<\/h2>\n