I find the Asian cultures so very interesting and the Chinese have many long standing traditions and customs that have many depths to them.
Many of you know, my strong interests in rabbits, which by the way just happened...I created one rabbit doll and...well you know what they say about rabbits!
This Year of 2011, according to the Chinese Zodiac, is the Year of the Golden Rabbit, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012.
In Chinese tradition, the Rabbit brings a year in which you can catch your breath and calm your nerves. It is a time for negotiation. Not to force issues, because if you do you will ultimately fail. To gain the greatest benefits from this time, focus on home, family, security, cooperation, and your relationships with women and children. Make it a goal to create a safe, peaceful lifestyle, so you will be able to calmly deal with any problem that may arise.
The Rabbit is a lucky sign and is the symbol of the Moon, while the Peacock is the symbol of the Sun, and that together, these two animal signs signify the start of day and night, represent the Yin and Yang of life.
In the Year of the Rabbit, the wish-granting aspect of the Sun and the Moon combined is multiplied. The Moon is YIN and this is the Yin of Heaven, signifying magic.
So on each of the Full Moon nights of this year, go out into your garden to gaze into the Full Moon with its bright white light and granting you love and courage.
I love to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a dinner party...table decor to come later this month.
Here is my favorite cookbook, in 2001 Mark and I were fortunate to go on a cruise to Asia, and on that cruise one of the speakers was Ying Chang Compestine...well turns out she was living in Boulder, CO...I love her method of cooking and therefore had to buy her cookbook. It is one of my most used cookbooks!
Chinese New Year menu from CookingLight Magazine.
