The day of love will also be the celebration of the Tiger this year! This year the Lunar New Year will fall on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010. The Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in many Chinese and Asian traditions.
Within the celebration, traditions and customs are various. Presents, decorations, food, and even new clothing are purchased to adorn the holiday. The traditional color that is seen throughout all decorations and outfits is a strong red. As this year’s celebration lands on Valentine’s Day, red will be seen all over the city!
Many cultures celebrate the Lunar New Year, sometimes referred to as the Spring Festival. These cultures include Koreans (Seollal), Tibetans and Bhutanese (Losar), Mongolians (Tsagaan Sar), Vietnamese (Tết) and in Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
Wikipedia reports that on the Eve of the Lunar New Year, families celebrate with a feast with all kinds of food! This holiday is also a time marked by visits to kin, relatives and friends the during the days of celebration.
The Lunar New Year is also the mark of the Chinese Zodiac. This year’s zodiac is the Year of the Tiger. People born in 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998 or 2010 carry this zodiac sign. Like the tiger, this sign is to be one of the most caring and thoughtful signs in the Chinese zodiac. Traits of this sign include finding the “best way to right society's wrongs, and quite capable of defending children, friends, and loved ones against all enemies”.
Emily Bronte, Sheryl Crow, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Dickinson, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jay Leno, Karl Marx, Marilyn Monroe, Marco Polo, Beatrix Potter, Queen Elizabeth II, and Jon Stewart are were all born under a year of the tiger! Along with Agatha Christie, Bill Murray, Hugh Hefner, Jim Carrey, Jodie Foster, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Penelope Cruz, Stevie Wonder, Tennessee Williams, Wesley Snipes, and former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham!!
Looking to celebrate around Chicago?
February 14, 2010
On Wentworth from 24th St. to Cermak Rd.
The Chinatown New Year Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year, “Year of the TIGER 4708”will include marching bands, floats, lion teams, a 100’ Mystical Dragon, and MissFriendship Ambassador. Please join us to welcome the New Year as we convey “Gung
Hay Fat Choi” to all in attendance.
Parade step-off time is 1:00PM though there are other activities starting as early as 11:30AM.
Looking to throw a Lunar New Year Party? Try some of these recipes
Chinese Tea Leaf Eggs
Egg Foo Yung II
Chinese New Year Turnip Cake
Links
China Page
Lunar New Year -Wiki
Chinese New Year
All Recipes
Metro Mix
