East and Southeast Asians worldwide are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, scheduled for February 17 and spanning a 15-day period this year. In the Chinese zodiac system, each year is linked to an element, and as we enter the Year of the Fire Horse, it signifies a time for significant life transformations. This year is associated with embracing challenges, personal development, and a heightened pace of life.
The Year of the Fire Horse occurs once every 60 years in the zodiac cycle, making it a rare and special occurrence that may not be witnessed again in one’s lifetime.
To commemorate the Year of the Fire Horse, we had a conversation with author Angela Hui, who expressed her fondness for the Lunar New Year and the cherished moments spent with family. Additionally, she shared a delightful recipe that you can replicate in your own kitchen.
Before you embark on cooking, consider crafting your own fire horse through the traditional Chinese art of paper folding, provided by Tesco. Simply print the template and follow the instructions in the accompanying video.
The Lunar New Year holds a special place in many families’ hearts, often referred to as the “Asian Christmas” and recognized as the most significant festivity in the calendar. It is a time for family gatherings, paying homage to ancestors, and inviting good luck into the new year.
One of the highlights of returning home is the opportunity to cook alongside my mother, who is a skilled chef. Despite the cliché, food serves as our primary means of communication, allowing us to bond while preparing meals together. The shared moments in the kitchen, folding dumplings and chopping vegetables in harmony, create a comforting ambiance where words are unnecessary.
Food plays a pivotal role in shaping our New Year celebrations. In Chinese tradition, serving symbolic dishes symbolizes hopes and aspirations for the upcoming year. We eagerly discuss and plan our family’s Lunar New Year menu days in advance, exchanging recipes, photos, videos, and voice messages. For instance, my mother insists on including a whole steamed fish as it signifies prosperity (“年年有余, leen leen yow yu” in Cantonese), with the word for fish, “yu,” resembling terms for surplus and abundance.
As we brainstorm ideas, we settle on eight dishes symbolizing prosperity, luck, and completeness. I have shared my steamed fish recipe below, featuring ingredients easily obtainable at Tesco.
The Lunar New Year invites a year of change, new prospects, personal growth, and a faster pace of life. However, it also serves as a gentle reminder to pause, spend quality time with family, bid farewell to the old year, welcome prosperity for the new year, and, of course, make room for indulging in festive delicacies.