Chinese new year in New Jersey
New Jersey Chinese new years celebrations:
“Chinese people can be superstitious. 2006 was the year of the dog, a lucky year for love. Couples rushed to tie the knot within the year.
According to the Chinese lunar calendar, the New Year begins Feb. 18, welcoming the year of the golden pig.
The Chinese zodiac follows a 12-year cycle. But 2007 is not any old pig year, it’s a golden one. Representing wealth and good luck, the golden pig rears its curly tail only once every 60 years. Babies born this year will grow up to be successful and prosperous. Chinese officials are already bracing for overcrowded maternity wards.
Starting this weekend, Chinese communities around the globe will begin celebrations of the New Year. Dragon dance parades will snake through the streets, keeping the beat with clanging cymbals and popping firecrackers. The holiday is also a time for a thorough housecleaning. Deceased relatives are honored. Kids get red and gold envelopes with cash folded inside. And of course, family and friends gather for banquets overflowing with succulent Chinese dishes.
What we would say for “Happy New Year” in Mandarin, “Gong Xi Fa Cai,” is better translated as, “May this year bring you prosperity.”
One way to usher in a prosperous year is to enjoy good food.
While there is no set Chinese New Year dish, certain superstitions dictate what is best to serve, according to Joan Wang, a principal at the Northern New Jersey Chinese Association Chinese School, based in Montville.”
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