Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year, and the most anticipated by everyone in Taiwan. The holiday commemorating the culmination of a year and the beginning of another, making colorful shades and the environment is filled with joy and optimism. This year's Lunar New Year begins on February 3 with the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.
The busiest street in the New Year's Eve in Taipei, the capital is Ti Hua Street, located in a central and ancient. The street lined with buildings some over 100 years old, remnants of the Japanese colonial era, hosts many traditional grocery stores throughout the year.
But when approaching Lunar New Year, the place turns into a big bazaar, part of the street is closed to make room for a large number of sellers of sweets, and other traditional products, which consumed during the days of Lunar New Year holiday.
piles of sweets and candies are really spectacular, and offer different varieties of all flavors. In a brief walk down the street Ti Hua, you can feel the fervor and exaltation of the people as it prepares to celebrate the greatest festival of the year than expected.
Customs unchanged
Shop and stock up with food and treats to prepare the big dinner the night before New Year is only part of the festivities. The Lunar New Year celebration involves many traditions that are accompanied by some superstitions.
The days before the New Year is de rigueur to make a general cleaning, where all useless strip both home and business, and thus also eliminate all the negative, for the new year with new energy and luck. By contrast, in the early days of the year can not throw away, believing that this will keep the good fortune that has brought the new year in the house. Houses are decorated with allegorical figures, for example, the fish, which is a homophone for "wealth" among a series of objects, in addition to the sides of the doors are hung with posters of red spring couplets that promise prosperity, wealth and good luck.
At this time the red and gold predominate everywhere, coloring the windows of the shops, the decorations on the doors of businesses and homes. Stores that are involved in selling office supplies or decorations, and a lot of sidewalk vendors and night markets, bring to selling a range of colorful merchandise with the theme of the new year. It's really a great attraction, see the special decorations, which each year presents innovations and modern touches while maintaining its traditional essence.
The temples also dress up and put red decorations to welcome the faithful who tend to visit their offerings to the gods on the first day of the year
The highlight of the celebrations is the big dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year, which is prepared with great dedication and time for members family. It is a feast consisting of delicious traditional dishes. Some dishes have meanings that refer to good luck and prosperity. Among them are the nien gao or cake made from glutinous rice years, which can be eaten sweet or savory. After the sumptuous dinner, some family members talking while you enjoy candy and nuts and drink tea, while others are dedicated to playing traditional games such as mahjong or cards.
For children, the occasion is very special because after dinner and before the end of the night, given the long-awaited hong bao, which are "red envelopes" with money, symbolize the wishes of good luck and prosperity. They also tend to give parents and older people as a gesture of respect and filial piety.
take this opportunity to show you how to do the traditional nien gao, and the simplest of all, and one of the typical ways of consuming. You can also eat chopped nothing else, or if nien gao salt, used in combination with vegetables and meats in savory dishes. this recipe I used to do it.
brown sugar Nien gao
Ingredients:
a. 20cc water
100 grs.
brown sugar 10 gr.
brown sugar b. 70 grs. brown sugar
160 cc water 1 / 2 teaspoon rum
200 grs. glutinous rice flour
Prepared
1. Mix the ingredients (a) and carry over medium heat until it turns a golden brown syrup.
2. Lower the heat and add (b), and stir to dissolve the sugar. Allow to cool.
3. Incorporate the liquor, then add the glutinous rice flour, and mix well well with a whisk until no lumps of flour remain.
4. Let stand 30 minutes. Stir well again and place the mixture in a bowl or pan about six inches. envoplast covered.
5. Steaming for 1 hour.
6. Cool completely before cutting.
can eat well or prepare other dishes with this sweet cake. Another option is to add fresh cooked beans, or some dried fruit to taste before cooking.
A typical way to eat is wrapped in a mixture of common wheat flour and egg then deep-fried.
Happy Lunar New Year!
That year of the Rabbit is very prosperous for each of you. A big hug!
0 comments:
Post a Comment