Local Chinese Restaurants Usher in the Year of the Dragon

The 2012 Chinese New Year began on Jan. 23 with the usual fanfare of firecrackers, parades and feasting. The longest and most important of the Chinese holidays, New Year celebrations can last up to 15 days.

“The Chinese New Year is like Thanksgiving,” said David Hu, owner and proprietor of Shanghai Café in Potomac Oak Shopping Center off of Travilah Road, “where the family gathers and eats together at a big table.” 

However, unlike Thanksgiving celebrations, there must be fish on the table, said Hu, who hails from Shanghai. The Chinese word for fish, "yu," is a homonym for the Chinese word for plenty. A whole fish is placed on the table to symbolize abundance and good fortune that will carry over for the family into the new year.

Other traditional dishes for the Chinese New Year -- many of which are symbolic -- include marinated pork, spring rolls, dumplings, and noodles, which by their long shape symbolize longevity, and therefore, according to Chinese belief, should not be cut.

The Year of the Dragon, which began on Monday, Jan. 23, is considered the luckiest and most auspicious of the signs of the Chinese calendar. The Chinese zodiac has twelve yearly cycles named for twelve animals, but the dragon is the only imaginary animal in the cycle and has long been revered as a symbol for wisdom and power.  

“People who are born in dragon years are very happy and special people,” said Hu.

Susan Yin, manager of Szechuan Palace in Potomac Valley Shopping Center in North Potomac, recalled that everyone had to eat a rice bowl soup for New Year’s breakfast. It is essential for citrus, especially tangerines and oranges, to be on the table during this holiday to bring luck and good fortune.

Pork is a staple of Chinese New Year cuisine, and a popular preparation is meatballs made with shredded pork, referred to as Lion’s Head meatballs in some provinces, she said.

“Kids love Chinese New Year the most because they get real money,” said Yin, who is originally from Southern China. It has long been a custom for elders to give children money in red envelopes with wishes for a prosperous and happy new year.

The Chinese New Year celebration culminates at the end of 15 days with a big lantern lighting festival. Many of the lanterns are flying lanterns and they light up the night sky…”very beautiful,” recalled Yin.