Title

Chinese New Year

Author(s)

Rhonda Parkinson

Source

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/p/food.htm

Chinese New Year Each year, Asians spend weeks preparing for the 15-day celebration, officially called the Spring Festival. Key points (facts) Symbolic Chinese New Year Food and Recipes Families hand out oranges; prepare harmony trays filled with lychee nuts and other snacks to symbolize good fortune. In 2011, it falls on 23rd February, the year of Rabbit.

Menu Ideas for a Chinese New Year Party Nin Gao, also called Sticky Rice or Steamed Chinese Fruitcake, is made with glutinous rice flour and filled with an assortment of dried fruit. A charming Chinese custom is for families to serve Nian Gao to the Chinese Kitchen God a mythical god who returns to heaven every new year to report on a familys 2behaviour during the year. Along with special symbolic recipes, a number of festive dishes that are enjoyed throughout the year, such as Kung Pao Chicken and Salt and Pepper Shrimp, are also popular at Chinese New Year celebrations.

Special Foods for New Years Day Buddhas Delight (Jai) is traditionally served on the first day of the Chinese New Year, both to help cleanse out the body and to honor a Buddhist tradition that nothing living should be killed on the first day of the New Year. Turnip Cake (Lo Bak) is a non-vegetarian treat that is also frequently served on Chinese New Years Day, to symbolize prosperity and rising fortune

Chinese Holiday Calendar From Chinese Valentines Day to the Mooncake Festival, there are many Chinese holidays throughout the year, mostly with their special celebratory food. The Chinese is one of the biggest races in Malaysia and Chinese New Year is the biggest festival celebrated by them every year according to the lunar calendar. A chosen animal will represent a year and it has its own meaning which usually affects the daily life of all Chinese. For example, 2011 is the year of the Rabbit and the astrologist predicted that this year will be a year of peace and tranquillity. Other than that, Chinese do believe that food plays an important role during Chinese New Year celebration. They served a variety of dishes in different occasions during Chinese New Year as symbols of good fortune and Key points (opinion prosperous. For instant, on the night before Chinese New Year, they enjoy a meal with fish and other and views) lucky foods to symbolize good fortune. They also served Nian Gao to a mythical god, who they belief will return to heaven every new year to report on their behaviours and theres saying that the taste of Nian Gao can influence the report. The foods served throughout Chinese New Year celebration usually have their own meaning. For example, Buddhas Delight (Jai) is served on the first day of Chinese New Year to honour a Buddhist tradition and it also can help to cleanse out the body. While, serving Turnip Cake (Lo Bak) is a symbol of prosperity and rising fortune. Most of Chinese festivities will include special celebratory

food which can be enjoyed by all Malaysian from different races, which make us 1Malaysia.

Summary in the form of a graphic organiser

Title

Hari Raya celebration highlights Malaysian cuisine

Author(s)

Nancy T. Lu

Source

http://culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=972&Itemid=235

Malaysian community in Taipei The Malaysian community in Taipei led by Abdullah Mohd Salleh, president of the Malaysian Friendship and Trade Center, and Madame Zawiah Ahmad invited friends to join them in the feasting featuring authentic Malaysian cuisine. Key points (facts) The Malaysians colourfully dressed in their national costumes or at least in batik attires as they gathered to relish the dishes, all spiced to delight, at the buffet table.

Malaysian cuisine The chicken masak merah, which was yummy, had the sweetness of honey and the sourness of tomato.

Kway teow goring, flat noodles associated with Penang cooking, indicated Chinese culinary food way in Malaysian cooking.

Meanwhile sambal sotong or spicy squid with a mix of tastes from onion, tomato and tamarind paste called attention to the influence of Indian cooking.

Right there also for the guests to relish was satay Kajang. The skewered meat was dipped in peanut sauce, which could be spicy.

Cucur udang or shrimp fritter, another Malaysian recipe, was served for lunch although Malaysians sometimes prefer to have this for snack.

Malaysian-style dining would not be complete without beef rendang, unique in its cooking technique. Shallots, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and chilli peppers added flavours to the beef cooked in coconut milk in a covered wok and then in an uncovered one. The coconut milk thickened, turning partly into oil.

Ais kacang was the refreshing sweet dessert of the day. Cakes with flavours of pandan and coconut were also appreciated.

Malaysia is well-known as a multi-races country and one of the ways to maintain a good relationship Key points (opinion between the people is to promote each races festivities. As Malay is the biggest community in Malaysia, and views) celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri is done in the most colourful ways of open house where all races can

come and experience the festive themselves. Nowadays, Hari Raya celebration is not only celebrated in Malaysia and by Malaysian, but some Malaysian who lives abroad has their own ways in lending hands to promote Malaysia to the world. The Malaysian ambassadors in Taipei, for instant, had invited friends and relatives to join them in the feasting featuring authentic Malaysian cuisine for Hari Raya celebration. The foods served-the chicken masak merah, kway teow goring and spicy squid had represented three main races in Malaysia through the ways they had been cooked. No doubt, food and festivities play an important role in promoting Malaysia around the globe.

Summary in the form of a graphic organiser

REFERENCES
Lu, N. T. (2008, October 31). Retrieved from culture.tw: http://culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=972&Itemid=235 Parkinson, R. (2011). Retrieved from about.com: http://chinesefood.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/p/food.htm