- Vendors at the The International Center, 11122 Bellaire Blvd., sell candies, decorations and other items made especially for recognition of the Lunar New Year. This is the Year of the Rooster.
The moon is once again shining in the direction of a new year. The rooster is crowing itself into everyone's life today as the Lunar New Year is celebrated across the nation in all Chinese and Vietnamese homes.
The animal symbols can be compared to the zodiac signs in American culture, but instead of going by month, they go by birth year. There are 12 animals in the cycle. The rooster, this year's animal, connotes a person of confidence, diligence, decisiveness and sometimes boastful or stubborn.
Other cultures may raise a confused eyebrow, but almost everyone can participate in the merriment. A common recommendation is to wear red, which traditionally represents good luck.
American Karen Bienski plans to use this opportunity to compensate for the American New Year. “I think that if you have another chance to start fresh, why not take it? Plus I have an excuse to order Chinese.”
A common belief among the celebrating communities is that the first day of the Lunar New Year should be perfect. So take care of any burdens, conflicts or debts. Start off on a good foot. Though it may all be considered superstition, in the end it is fun and a great way for family and friends to come together.
Food is half the celebration. In Chinese culture, there are certain dishes that represent individual ideas. Fish is a reflection of abundance, oranges to bring luck and sticky pie for dessert for good health. With all the food consumed in past years, Anne Yueh's first response to Xian Nian, the Chinese phrase for New Year, is “I get fat.”
Xian Nian is also a shared tradition in Vietnamese celebration called Tet, the Vietnamese word for New Year. Festivities could consist of a meal with up to 10 courses. The reasoning for this is that days before, a family cooks enough food for at least three days because it is custom not to do any work during this period.
A few recommendations for traditional Vietnamese cooking are Anh Hong, 9938 Bellaire Blvd. and Pho Xua, 6200 Wilcrest Dr. For Chinese, try a known favorite, Tan Tan, 6816 Ranchester Dr.
Traditionally, Vietnamese children receive li xi from their elders and relatives to be considered as “lucky money.” What's a better way to start off the new year than with a crisp new $20 bill? A Chinese tradition is to burn fake money for their ancestors to live prosperously in the afterlife. The rest of the celebration can include some good-humored gambling or fortune reading to bring forth a smile, but mainly it is just a great reason to be with the ones you love.
So today, wish a Vietnamese friend happy new year by saying “Chuc mung nam moi” (pronounced chuck mong nam moi) or call up your Chinese buddy and holler “Gung hay fat choy” (pronounced gung hey faaht choy) (Cantonese) or “Gong xi fa cai” (pronounced gung cee fa tsai)(Mandarin).
For a simpler way to join the festivities, hit up the weeklong celebration on Bellaire for some of the best food in town. Otherwise, go find out your animal zodiac sign, put on a red shirt and a smile. Happy New Year!
