Chinese New Year feasting

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy New Year! If you still have some New Year’s revelry in you, why not keep the celebration going – at least for bit longer. Get out your broom and sweep away the past: the Year of the Dragon begins January 23.
If you were born in 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000 or 2012, you fall under the sign of the dragon. Like the dragon, you are one of the luckiest and most dynamic signs in the Chinese zodiac.
Often gifted with outstanding charisma, and confident to the point of swaggering, dragons can be puzzled by those who simply refuse to recognize that they are masters of their universe.
Dragons also have a reputation for impetuousness, and running off at the mouth without thinking. However, if you’re lucky enough to earn their trust and friendship, you’ll never find a truer, more stout-hearted friend.Cross them, and woe to those who have experienced a tongue lashing at the hands of a hot-headed dragon!
Famous people born under the Sign of the Dragon? They include Joan of Arc, Sigmund Freud, John Lennon, and actors Bruce Lee, Orlando Bloom, Colin Farrell, and Sandra Bullock.
Chinese New Year is all about spectacle, from the fireworks and dancing dragons to the fabulous food. That’s why it’s a holiday anyone can enjoy – and a perfect time to host a party with a surefire theme and plenty of crowd-pleasing surprises.
From the décor and color scheme to the food, Chinese New Year is rich in beautiful symbols. If you’ve got a round table, this is the time to use it, because it is a sign of wholeness. Decorate it with red and gold accents to represent good luck and prosperity.
There are all sorts of symbolic foods, each associated with specific blessings or good luck. Noodles – in dishes such as Wonton Soup and silky Sesame Ginger Noodles – stand for longevity. Pork symbolizes wealth; whole chicken stands for completeness and prosperity.
Supplement the meal with other symbolic foods, such as pot stickers or spring
rolls (said to bring prosperity because they resemble gold ingots); a bowl of tangerines or oranges (their Chinese names sound like the words for “luck” and “wealth”); fortune cookies to go with dessert – you can even insert your own customized fortunes for the year ahead.
Get inspired with these recipes.