Called Spring Festival, Asian New
Year 2008 arrives on February 7th as the clock strikes
midnight. This ancient holiday, with origins in China,
is celebrated throughout Asia. Alphabetically, that
means it is part of the culture of Bangladesh, India,
Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore,
Thailand and Vietnam, to name a few of the continent's
larger countries. They will all honor this Year of
the Rat, which starts on the first day of the first
full moon on the lunar calendar.
Asian New Year falls between late January and mid-February
every year, and this Rat Year will end on January
25, 2009. The Year of the Ox will follow beginning
on January 26, 2009 and the 12-animal cycle continues.
Like all holidays, Asian New Year is filled with traditions.
In China, it used to last for 15 days and end on Lantern
Festival; however, rare is the business that gives
folks that many continuous days to celebrate.
Records indicate that the Chinese were the first to
keep track of time, starting in 2697 BCE. Counting
the year 'zero' as one, they have been enjoying the
holiday for 4,706 years.
If you are a restaurant owner, you should celebrate,
too. That means preparing special menus with many
traditional foods. Red placemats, tablecloths, napkins,
and/or banners can help; they symbolize happiness.
Do good deeds for and with your customers, and tell
them your plans for the Rat Year. With a yin nature,
the rat is believed to have a lifespan of 300 years.
Tell your customers that when this animal's fur changes
from brown to white, it forecasts lots of luck for
an entire year.
Have special menus that feature auspicious foods;
and tell the customers about the foods offered, and
why Asians eat them during the New Year season. Make
a sign or a placemat that tells them these things.
One important one is New Year cakes, called nian gao
in Chinese. Sell some because eating these glutinous
rice pudding-like cakes is said to bring future success.
Sell red dates Have special menus that feature auspicious
foods; and tell the customers about the foods offered,
and why Asians eat them during the New Year season.
Make a sign or a placemat that tells them these things.
One important one is New Year cakes, called nian gao
in Chinese. Sell some because eating these glutinous
rice pudding-like cakes is said to bring future success.
Sell red dates
Advise that a whole fish brings good fortune, cutting
it before cooking cuts into that fortune. Long noodles
are said to bring long life, so breaking them before
cooking can cut that short. Eating black moss (a vegetable)
is auspicious for acquiring money. Eating chicken
does the same for prosperity. Eating shrimp means
a happy and a lively future. Eating green vegetables
symbolizes acquisition of green dollars. Having some
roast pig promises peace and purification. Enjoying
lobster offers positive energy and spirit. Long beans
elongate life for those who consume them. Jiaotze,
folded in the shape of gold ingots, offer wishes for
acquisition of gold. Spring rolls look like rolls
of money and are auspicious for that. Eating dishes
with scallions and lettuce promise a happy and healthy
spring season. May you and your customers enjoy them
all.
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There are positive things to do before the New Year.
Clean and polish your place top to bottom before New
Year's Day. Do not sweep during this holiday as it
symbolizes sweeping away prosperity. If you serve
breakfast during the New Year, provide vegetarian
foods. To start a day with them brings good luck.
Do pay all your debts and do not give credit or loan
money during this holiday. Do not put knives on your
tables. They might cut into your good fortune. Avoid
foul language or ugly words; they bring the evil eye.
And, do not serve white bean curd, it is a symbol
of death and can be a wish of same.
At your cash register or exit counter, win over customers
by offering tastes from a filled eight-sided 'prosperity'
tray. Fill each section with one of the following,
and make a sign to tell customers what these foods
mean: candied melon seeds to wish them good health,
red melon seeds to wish them joy and happiness, dried
litchis to bless their strong family relationships,
kumquats to wish them some gold, candied coconut slices
to encourage togetherness, peanuts for long life,
winter melon seeds so they will have a pleasant and
harmonious year, lotus seeds wishing them many children,
gingko nuts hoping they gain much silver, dried tofu
for fulfillment, and bamboo to wish them strength
throughout the year.
One last thing, for each small child, hand them a
red envelope when they leave with a shiny coin inside.
Watch their faces and those of their parents smile.
This act of kindness, understanding, and all of these
wishes will please your customers and hasten your
own good year.
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