Celebrating The Year of The Boar
This year, February 18 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year. To commence this two-week celebration, Chinese around the world gather to celebrate with family, friends and loved ones. It is customary for open-air markets to be set up featuring flowers, toys, clothing, gifts and of course, oranges, the most popular and abundant fruit during Chinese New Year.
Citrus fruits (many of which originated in Asia) are popular gifts for several reasons: the orange and yellow colors symbolize prosperity and abundance; ji, a Chinese word for orange, also sounds like a word for good luck; and tangerines with their leaves intact symbolize unbroken friendship. The timing couldn’t be better because juicy navels, royal mandarins, tangerines and pummelos are at their peaks during the winter months.
Boar Traits
The boar is the last of the 12 cycles in the Chinese zodiac. It is your sign if you were born in the Chinese birth-year 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995 or 2007. People born under this sign are said to be honest, straightforward and patient. They are modest and work quietly behind the scenes. When others despair, they are there to offer support and won't let you down.
Asian Recipes