Beware of the Snow Fungus

Part two of my crash course on Chinese New Year.

‘Gong Hei Fatt Choy’ or ‘Gong Xi Far Cai’ (both meaning ‘Happy New Year’) is your mantra. Own it!

2010 is ‘Geng Yin’ and the year of the tiger – revered for his courage and warding off fire, thieves and ghosts.

Chinese New Year is a time to wear your best and eat/drink to your heart’s (or wallet’s) content. When ab (using) your ‘plastic fantastic’ (credit card); opt for red threads, symbolising fire and known to quash bad luck. Whatever you do; don’t wear white; it represents death!

Specialty Chinese New Year cuisine includes yu sheng (traditional raw fish salad), BBQ’d pork belly, roasted duck and the not-so-tempting (by virtue of its name), ‘snow fungus’ (what the???) I’ll stick to the duck thanks!

Ensure you munch on black moss seaweed, dried bean curd and gingko nuts to confirm your path to riches and happiness. Display produce such as tangerines, oranges and pomelos to further cement your chances magnetising good luck and extra cash.

The sound of ‘Kueh Lapis’ cake appeals to me given its promise of ‘a thousand layers of happiness’. At $68 per cake and weighing a hefty one kilogram; it sounds more like it will add a thousand layers of fat to my paunch.

At the stroke of midnight, open every door and window in your house to release the previous year (IF you’re home!) What happens if you’re out?

DON’T use scissors or wash your hair on New Year’s Day as you’ll either cut-off or wash away good luck.

DO order/serve uncut noodles as they represent a long life and apparently leaving the heads on chicken/fish will bring a sense of wholeness to your meal. Hmmm! That’s one way of describing it.

For extra cash (I’m sensing a theme here), order/serve dumplings as their shape represents ancient Chinese money.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!