Welcome to the Year of the Rooster — China’s biggest holiday – Today marks the first day of the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese lunar calendar in China. It is the biggest holiday in China and one in which a literal migration of millions of people takes place as families return home to share in the festivities. Beijing – Today marks the first day of the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese lunar calendar in China. It is the biggest holiday in China and one in which a literal migration of millions of people takes place as families return home to share in the festivities. People travel hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles to reunite with families for festivities, fireworks and, of course, food. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, people born under the sign of the rooster are brave and responsible, but very vain. The year of your sign is also considered to be one of the most unlucky years of your life. But regardless of how the year may be perceived, people will head to temples to pray for an auspicious year, with good health and good fortune, reports The Chinese Lunar Calendar Each year the lunar calendar is assigned an animal from a rotating zodiac of 12 animals that include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Last year was the Year of the Monkey. In addition to an animal, Chinese astrologers assign one of People shop for Year of the Rooster decorations in Hong Kong Traditions associated with the beginning of the Lunar New Year Different parts of China, as well as other predominately Asian countries, have varying traditions and customs associated with the Lunar New Year. And one of the biggest traditions is setting off fireworks on New Year’s Eve, just like the world celebrates New Year’s Eve on the Gregorian Calendar. There are huge displays of fireworks and thousands upon thousands of firecrackers are set off in an attempt to ward off evil, according to tradition. But even this tradition is being asked to take a backseat to A man sets off fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year The absolutely biggest and best tradition associated with the Lunar New Year festivities is the New Year’s Eve dinner, and it is not eaten in restaurants but at home with the family. In Northern China, dumplings are a very popular tradition on New Year’s Eve, whereas, in Southern China, very few people serve dumplings. The dinner also includes fish, and along with the dumplings, the two dishes mean « prosperity.  » Another popular food is the New Year cake. It is a solid cake made with glutinous rice flour together with some sugar. New Year Cake is popular in Eastern China. With this year being the Year of the Rooster, the Chinese will also be munching on « Phoenix Claws, » an auspicious name for the lowly rooster’s feet. While Westerners may think of chicken feet as scraps to be thrown away, in Asian countries, diners like to eat their meat off the bone and they are considered a delicacy, says Chicken feet and other chicken parts ready for sale on a roadside cart in Haikou, Hainan, China. « Not only are they tasty, but it’s believed they have a lot of collagen so if you eat them it’s good for your skin and makes you look beautiful, » said Liza Chu, author of a guidebook to Hong Kong dim sum dishes including chicken feet. Now, chicken feet don’t have any special meaning in the Year of the Rooster, But Chu says it’s just a good excuse to eat them. For those of you who have never tasted chicken feet, they have a chewy, fatty and succulent texture, says Chu. This writer would sort of liken them to pickled pig’s feet. With festivals being held around the world in celebration of the Lunar New Year over the next two weeks, there will be a lot of fish, dumplings and Phoenix Claws consumed. The start of the Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world when the Chinese ring in the new year when the new moon is closest to the beginning of spring, usually between mid-January and mid-February each year. People travel hundreds and sometimes thousands of miles to reunite with families for festivities, fireworks and, of course, food. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, people born under the sign of the rooster are brave and responsible, but very vain. The year of your sign is also considered to be one of the most unlucky years of your life. But regardless of how the year may be perceived, people will head to temples to pray for an auspicious year, with good health and good fortune, reports Time Each year the lunar calendar is assigned an animal from a rotating zodiac of 12 animals that include the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. Last year was the Year of the Monkey. In addition to an animal, Chinese astrologers assign one of the five elements to the year, Gold (Metal), Wood, Water, Fire, or Earth. For 2017, we have a Fire Rooster year. The element-sign combinations recur every 60 years. Last year was the Fire Monkey year. Both the zodiac sign and the element are said to affect one’s personality and destiny. Different parts of China, as well as other predominately Asian countries, have varying traditions and customs associated with the Lunar New Year. And one of the biggest traditions is setting off fireworks on New Year’s Eve, just like the world celebrates New Year’s Eve on the Gregorian Calendar. There are huge displays of fireworks and thousands upon thousands of firecrackers are set off in an attempt to ward off evil, according to tradition. But even this tradition is being asked to take a backseat to China’s air pollution problem. Beijing government officials asked Communist Party staff to not set off fireworks this year, but the local media reported that air pollution levels in a number of cities across the country shot up alarmingly, anyway. The absolutely biggest and best tradition associated with the Lunar New Year festivities is the New Year’s Eve dinner, and it is not eaten in restaurants but at home with the family. In Northern China, dumplings are a very popular tradition on New Year’s Eve, whereas, in Southern China, very few people serve dumplings. The dinner also includes fish, and along with the dumplings, the two dishes mean « prosperity.  » Another popular food is the New Year cake. It is a solid cake made with glutinous rice flour together with some sugar. New Year Cake is popular in Eastern China. With this year being the Year of the Rooster, the Chinese will also be munching on « Phoenix Claws, » an auspicious name for the lowly rooster’s feet. While Westerners may think of chicken feet as scraps to be thrown away, in Asian countries, diners like to eat their meat off the bone and they are considered a delicacy, says CTV News Canada « Not only are they tasty, but it’s believed they have a lot of collagen so if you eat them it’s good for your skin and makes you look beautiful, » said Liza Chu, author of a guidebook to Hong Kong dim sum dishes including chicken feet. Now, chicken feet don’t have any special meaning in the Year of the Rooster, But Chu says it’s just a good excuse to eat them. For those of you who have never tasted chicken feet, they have a chewy, fatty and succulent texture, says Chu. This writer would sort of liken them to pickled pig’s feet. With festivals being held around the world in celebration of the Lunar New Year over the next two weeks, there will be a lot of fish, dumplings and Phoenix Claws consumed. Chinese Lunar new year, year of the rooster, phoenix claws, beginning of spring, Gregorian calendar

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