Happy Chinese New Year
Campfire Kitchen wishes you a Lucky New Year
Friday the 16th of February will be celebrated by millions across the world as New Year’s Day. Also Known as the Spring festival, Chinese New Year is celebrated on the new moon between January and February.
This is a major holiday and is consider the largest annual mass human migration in the world. We know Scout Groups across the UK and Ireland will also be celebrating the holiday as they seek to teach their young people about other cultures and people across the world. We hope to give a few ideas to get you started if you do decide to have Spring Festival get together!
Now, how is Chinese New Year celebrated?
Red Envelopes
Traditionally red envelopes are given out it seems by anyone to anyone, though usually more senior givers give to their juniors. Envelopes usually contain money and it seems the amount isn’t that important but it’s vital that the amount is an even number. You should also avoid the number ‘4’, apparently it’s a homophone for ‘death’ and is considered unlucky. Red envelopes can also contain chocolate coins. If you do decide to have a Chinese New Year Evening, red envelopes could feature quite authentically!
Fireworks
Difficult to get in the UK and Ireland as you’ll need a licence but with a little planning, fireworks are totally doable. According to Wikipedia, the point of fire crackers traditionally was to scare away evil spirits. On your Chinese New Year night, you could scare away those evil spirits your own way with something noisy! Sparklers are also readily available and safe if you’re careful. They count as fireworks…
The Food!
I love Chinese food and I love making Chinese food. Some quick research show that some families gather on New Year’s Eve to have a “reunion meal”. This kind of sounds like my usual Christmas dinner or an American Thanksgiving meal. We have two sumptuous recipes on Campfire Kitchen which we think we fit right in on a Spring Festival table.
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Most families will have some sort of hotpot on the table. This signifies the coming together and reunion of the family. Our Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe fits the bill.
Chinese BBQ Pork Belly
As well as the hotpot, there will be also be a number of other tasty, luxurious dishes. Pork belly is one of the most luxurious cuts of meat I know and when it’s given the time it needs, it is one of the tastiest things out there.
Hopefully, if you’re running a Chinese New Year themed-night or party, I’ve given you some ideas to get you started.
We at Campfire Kitchen wish you a lucky and happy Year of the Dog!
