Happy New Year of the Golden Pig

Here's a toast to the future, A toast to the past, And a toast to our friends,
far and near. May the future be pleasant; The past a bright dream; May our friends remain faithful and dear. ~ Anonymous




For hundreds of millions of people around the world Sunday, February 18, marks the start of the year of the pig under the Chinese calendar on the lunar calendar. People return home during this most revered holiday.

Newspapers and agencies across Asia have been busy consulting astrologers and feng shui masters for tips. To see your Chinese horoscope, click on this site:

http://astrology.yahoo.com/chinese/general/yearingeneral/pig


This lovely family, the Fans, invited Rochelle and me to share New Year's Eve dinner with them. The foods selected were based on hopes for the future. Here is a lists traditional foods to eat for the new year and why:

Bamboo shoots - wealth
Black moss seaweed - wealth
Dried Bean Curd - happiness (note: fresh tofu is not served because the color white symbolizes death and misfortune in Chinese culture).
Chicken - happiness and marriage (especially when served with "dragon foods," such as lobster.
Eggs - fertility
Egg Rolls - wealth
Fish served whole - prosperity
Chinese garlic chives - everlasting, a long life
Lychee nuts - close family ties
Noodles - A long life
Oranges - wealth
Peanuts - a long life
Pomelo - abundance, prosperity, having children
Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. - having a large number of children
Tangerines - luck