Families from China to the U.S. to Vietnam will ring in the Lunar New Year on Sunday. The holiday follows the Chinese zodiac, where each year is tied to one of 12 animals. This year is the Year of the Rabbit (or Year of the Cat in Vietnamese culture). Loved ones typically gather for an elaborate dinner. The meals often include a whole chicken, a whole fish, pork, noodles, spring rolls and dumplings, which are lucky symbols because of their shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingot currency. Chinese bakeries are also bustling with people wanting to snap up traditional desserts like nian gao (sweet rice cakes) or tang yuan, which are mochi-esque rice balls with black sesame or peanut paste in soup.
It's not just about the food. The goal of Lunar New Year is to reunite with family and usher in good fortune and prosperity. Children get red envelopes with money. Celebrations can continue in the days after New Year's day. Some U.S. cities with a Chinatown or Chinese American enclave will have events two weeks later. For example, San Francisco Chinatown, the oldest one nationwide, will have its annual Chinese New Year Festival & Parade on Feb. 4. Public events have become more commonplace as Lunar New Year has become more mainstream.
