Lunar New Year ushers in Year of the Monkey

By Annie Cui,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Dumplings (jiao zhi), noodles (mian tiao) and glutinous rice cakes (nian gao) are staple dishes for the dinner table on Chinese New Year. This year, the holiday falls on Monday, Feb. 8, the beginning of the Lunar Year.

Chinese New Year is a time for new beginnings, gatherings of friends and families and for children, who receive red envelopes with money, called hong bao.

Freshman Julia Pan’s family holds many parties in the Chinese community, but the Chinese New Year party is “the best.”

“My kitchen tables are filled with food and everyone is super happy,” Pan said.

Sophomore Kevin Tang and his family host an annual party (typically potluck style) and invite about four other families.

“I like the food the best; there’s a variety of traditional foods like zongzi [sweet rice wrapped in bamboo]. Oh, and the hong baos,” Tang said.