Welcome Dragon´s Year!

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Today is a very special day for those of us who share Asian traditions. It marks the beginning of a new lunar year which will last until January 2025. Therefore, I would like to share with you the significance of this day in my family.

As you may have read in some of my publications, my mother is Korean with strong influences from Chinese culture. It is a tradition to pass on the culture from generation to generation despite living in faraway places in Asian countries. It is a way of passing on the heritage.

The beginning of a new year is marked by one of the animals of the Chinese zodiac. This year corresponds to the Dragon, but the Dragon is accompanied by one of the elements of nature. In this cycle, it corresponds to the element of wood. Therefore, you will see that many will call this year the Year of the Wood Dragon.

Today at home we welcome the year with red and gold ornaments to open the doors to the good fortune that this year will bring to everyone.

To attract abundance, red envelopes with coins are given as gifts. .The number of coins in the envelope is usually a multiples of 3, so your envelope may have the traditional three coins tied together with red thread, or perhaps 6 or 9.

Incense is also lit and offerings are made to some of the protective deities of Chinese culture. Oranges are typical among the offerings, as their yellow color is associated with wealth, hope and life.

There are several important celebrations in Chinese culture, but the beginning of the New Year is a day of joy and gathering as a family to honor each of its members and to lovingly remember our ancestors.

Today is a day when we all gather as a family to taste delicious dishes prepared with the help of each family member. Everyone helps in the preparation of these delicious dishes.

Most dishes are served in large platters placed in the center of the table so that everyone can serve themselves as they please. The only thing that is served in individual portions are the soups.

Rice noodles are a must. My favorites are Singapore-style because they are delicious.

Chinese cuisine combines all the flavors our palate can perceive. Therefore, there are sweet, spicy, salty and sour dishes that are a feast of flavors. Honey chicken is one of the dishes that combines the sweet and salty flavors of chicken in a balanced way.

It should not be forgotten that a traditional Chinese meal should have its good cups of jasmine tea to facilitate the cleansing of the palate every time you taste dishes with strong flavors.

As you have seen, today is a special day to manifest good wishes among our loved ones. It is a day to open the doors to good fortune, not only material, but good fortune is represented by abundance in health and family togetherness, as well as economic prosperity.

<center <strong <i Happy Chinese New Year to all!</i </strong </center

@ivankapics photo collection copyright.

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