Chinese New Year Coincides with Valentines's Day

How Chinese New Year coincides with Valentines's Day in 2010

Chinese New Year's 2010 will occur on Valentine's Day. The year of the tiger begins on February 14th this year because the Chinese follow a lunar calendar. People in China and Taiwan may also refer to it as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. Chinese months are calculated around full moon cycles. Each lunar month begins on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth day, when the moon is brightest.

Chinese New Year is the most important of all the traditional Chinese holidays. In China, New Year preparations are similar to Christmas in America. Many people may take vacation from work or school to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. The Chinese buy presents, decorate with red paper decorations and cook large feast for the event. It is also the tradition that every family thoroughly cleans the house to sweep away any ill-fortune in hopes to make way for good incoming luck.

Festivities begin on the eve of Chinese New Year with a large traditional dinner. Choices might include: chicken, duck, pig, beef, fish, long noodles, spring rolls, lettuce wraps and sticky rice cakes. The family will end the night with fire works. Early the next morning, children will greet their parents by wishing them a healthy and happy new year. Parents and family members give the children money wrapped in red paper envelopes.

Chinese New Year Foods

Certain foods hold symbolism to Chinese people. A whole chicken symbolizes family togetherness. Long noodles represent long life. It's actually considered bad luck to cut the noodles. Spring rolls and clams symbolize wealth. Many foods symbolize abundance, including: oranges, tangerines and fish.

The Chinese sweet sticky rice cake, New Year's cake is served for dessert to symbolize a rich sweet life. Like many Chinese delicacies, it is tedious to prepare. The layers on the rice cake symbolize rising abundance in the new year. The round shape of the rice cake celebrates family togetherness.

Easy Chinese New Year

Preparing a Chinese New Year dinner doesn't have to be difficult. Pick up some of the Chinese food dishes from the local grocer/deli or local Chinese restaurant and combine with a few home cooked dishes and desserts. For the main dish, consider picking up a roasted chicken from the local grocery deli, or buy duck from a favorite Chinese restaurant. Picking up takeout from a local Chinese restaurant is the easiest way to enjoy Chinese New Year. It doesn't have to be expensive. Pick up only those dishes that are hard to make at home like, the main meat dish, spring rolls, lo mien noodles and sweet & sour sauce. At home, lettuce wraps are easy to make. Steam rice in a rice cooker or in the microwave. Provide several different kinds of fruit, steamed vegetables and dessert items for variety. If sticky rice cake is desired, pick it up from a Chinese bakery. It can be difficult to make.

Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day

Considering that both Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day are February 14th this year, combine the two in a fun and creative way. Let children make paper decorations of hearts and lanterns from red construction paper. Make homemade fortune cookies using store bought cookie dough. Dip a few fresh strawberries in chocolate and give little heart shaped boxes of chocolates as gifts. Instead of Valentine cards, give family, friends and children a few pennies wrapped in red paper packages. Enjoy making it a fun day to remember.