新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo) – New Year Goodness

Today marks the beginning of celebrations for Chinese New Year.

It is based on the lunar cycle and the festive period lasts for 15 days and is regarded as the spring festival.

The calendar has 12 zodiac signs based on animals and circulates on a 12 year cycle.

2022 is the year of the Tiger, who represents bravery and courage and those who are born during the year of the tiger are regarded as natural leaders.

The celebrations and traditions include visiting the temple, family reunions, decorating your homes and the streets, parades, fireworks, firecrackers, giving gifts and children receiving decorated red envelops with money (representing good fortune).

Food plays a significant part as it does across many cultural festivals. However for the New Year celebrations many foods are a must as the represent good luck, such as; Fish, Dumplings, Spring Rolls, Niangao (sticky rice cake with sugar, chestnuts, dates & lotus leaves) , Sweet rice balls, Noodles, Steamed chicken, fruit & Vegetables, Fa Gao (steamed desert made of soaked rice).

Celebrations bring us back to our traditions and are a beautiful way of learning from the past and bringing it to the future.

MCC wishes all our friends a very 新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè) – Happy New Year.