Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Happy New Year



It is that time again, New Years is only a few days away . Lunar New Years, or as we gringos and gringettes have come to call it “Chinese New Year’s”, though most of Asia celebrates. It is time to get a haircut, sweep out the house, and prepare for new and hopefully bountiful beginnings.

It is also time to send my kitchen god on his merry way to join his fellows. Though not a religious sort by nature, I post a picture of him and his family in my kitchen and so far he has been doing a good job of keeping things running smoothly. Tradition has it that you seal his mouth with sesame paste or other sweet so he can’t blab about what you have been up to with the other gods, then burn his picture to send him on his way, replacing the old picture with a fresh one. The picture I use is at the top, I am not sure who drew it, just found it on the internet and have used it ever since.

I hang couplets and firecracker decorations by my front door to scare away evil, and I might say stupid, spirits who are frightened by the noise of fireworks and can’t tell the difference between real and mock crackers. I’ll dig out my siu mai recipe and have already been dry running some dishes I want to make for the holiday. I usually throw a big party, but with Mrs. Phos’ leg in a cast we are keeping it on the down low this year – just us and the huskies.

Anyway, let me wish you a happy Year of the Rat and may it be a rich and rewarding year for you and yours.

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19 Comments:

At 9:41 PM, Blogger none said...

Happy new year and may therat not infest your kitchen.

 
At 9:50 PM, Blogger darkfoam said...

oh yeah, it is that time of the year again, isn't it? maybe i'll cook up something too since i certainly didn't do anything for Fastnacht, Fasching or Mardi Gras which is today.
Happy Year of the Rat to you too..

 
At 10:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

rats
and dogs
are a delicasy
in china

best to mrs phos

/t.

 
At 8:07 AM, Blogger Dino said...

happy new year to you too

 
At 8:15 AM, Blogger How do we know said...

Happy New Year to you too! :-) Hope that leg gets better soon.

 
At 12:00 PM, Blogger Die Muräne said...

Can't beliefe its already Chinese New Year again.
I really thought you're last post about it was from last week...

puh, growing old ;)

 
At 12:48 PM, Blogger sparringK9 said...

a dog trapped in a rat year. considering the likely candidates for the presidency year of the rat is a nice touch or serendipity

send fur!

 
At 12:48 PM, Blogger sparringK9 said...

"touch of" i meant.

 
At 3:22 PM, Blogger Ruela said...

happy new year and government ;)

 
At 5:07 PM, Blogger Klatuu o embuçado said...

I'll vote for Groucho Marx!

Cheers!

 
At 12:40 PM, Blogger Evalinn said...

Happy New Year! :-)

 
At 10:35 PM, Blogger Keshi said...

LOL @/t's comment!

Keshi.

 
At 4:07 AM, Blogger Pink said...

Gung Hay Fat Choi Phos!

Its not only a new year this one, but the start of a whole new 12 year cycle!

Woo Hoo! I went to Chinatown in London on New Years (all 2 streets and 3 blocks of it) and I came away really giddy and excited for the next cycle :)

May it be properous and happy for you and Mrs. Phos.

xx
Pinks
PS Snakes (like me) make terrible eating.

 
At 4:08 AM, Blogger Pink said...

Oh! Plus, a rat sauntered up to me and stared at me at my desk in the office yesterday. Despite the obvious health hazards of working in a place infested by rats, I think I'll take it as a blessing
:-/

xx
pinks

 
At 5:13 AM, Blogger Little Lamb said...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

 
At 11:10 AM, Blogger Jack K. said...

Happy New Year to you and the Mrs.

May peace, love, good health and prosperity be yours

 
At 6:08 AM, Blogger Helene said...

ohh fun post. I have always wanted to have a CNY party but never have. My Dads gf is from Taiwan and it has been such a treat to get to know her since we moved to Fl. She brought my kids red envelopes with money in it (for good luck) and when we moved into the house a wall decoration with lots of symbols of goodness. (Not my decorating style, but the boys LOVE all that is asian these days and scarfed it upstairs... so it now resides in their common area! =])

I love learning about other peoples traditions... whether its a cultural one or just family based, its always interesting to hear about it. Thanks for sharing.

Oh and I once read a book by Amy Tan called The Kitchen Gods Wife. Funny that I now know why it was called that! lol

 
At 6:09 AM, Blogger Helene said...

oh and a big LOL to the hammers comment!

 
At 4:59 AM, Blogger Unknown said...

Gung Hay Fat Choi to you too!

Hey, it's my year! I'm a Rat! ;) Lucky, lucky me!

 

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