Happy Chinese New Year!
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We've specially prepared a few authentic Chinese Dishes that are served during the Chinese New Year. In fact, these dishes are the exact dishes that our family eats during the week of Chinese New Year.
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Chinese New Year |
Wishing Tree |
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Chinese New Year is the most important and biggest festival in Chinese Tradition and is celebrated over two weeks. In China, all the factories, schools, and businesses close down and people travel across the country to celebrate with family to start the year off in harmony.
Each Year the Date of the Chinese New Year is different because like other Chinese Holidays, the date is determined on the Lunar Calendar. The New Year goes in a 12 year cycle represented by 12 different animals. Last year was the Rabbit and this is the year of the Dragon. Just like how Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with Turkey, the Chinese celebrate the New Year with traditional auspicious dishes. Every dish represents a certain virtue or idea such as harmony, health, wealth, and good fortune. This year, we’re offering to share our traditions with you. All these entrees are authentic dishes just like the ones that we serve our families to celebrate the New Year. |
The tradition of the wishing tree started near the Fong Ma Po Outpost of the Lam Chun village in Hong Kong.
Every Village has a protecting Earth God called Pak Kung whose spirit resides in a tree. Legend says that visiting fishermen would ask the Earth God for good luck and protection by tossing paper joss offerings into the tree Supposedly, the higher the offering lands in the tree branches, the more likely the wish will come true but if it falls or breaks a branch of the tree, then the wish was too greedy. Today, villagers make a pilgrimage to the Tin Hua Temple in the Fong Ma Po outpost dedicated to the patron saint of seafarers who protects fishermen and sailors. The two large Banyan Wishing Trees are near the Tin Hau Temple and many still go out to make wishes under the Wishing Tree. Here at the Hong Kong Restaurant, we are honoring the tradition with our Wishing Tree. If you order something from our New Year’s Menu, you will get a Lucky Red Envelope and a chance to write your wish on a red ribbon to attach to our Wishing Wall. These Wishes will be shared on our website and Facebook. |
