T H E POPOLOGIST®  

February 1, 2022 is the start of the Lunar New year. The date of the Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar. The date changes every year but is always somewhere in the period from January 21st to February 20th.

THE NEW YEAR IS CELEBRATED ACROSS THE WORLD IN CHINESE, VIETNAMESE,

SINGAPOREAN, MALAYSIAN, KOREAN, AND INDONESIAN COMMUNITIES.

IT IS ALSO THE YEAR OF THE TIGER AND You're a Tiger sign if you were born in the following years: 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022. FOR Those born during a Tiger Year are said to possess some of the qualities of the animal itself, including courageous, assertive and natural leaders.

In preparation for the Lunar New Year, houses are thoroughly cleaned to rid them of inauspicious spirits, which might have collected during the old year. Cleaning is also meant to open space for good will and good luck

Chinese New Year is a celebration based on The ancient Chinese lunar calendar. It typically lasts about 15 days and is a time for honoring ancestors, as well as for hosting family gatherings and feasts.

Many asian culture celebrates the Lunar New Year differently with various foods and traditions that symbolize prosperity, abundance and Health.

Certain dishes are eaten during the chiNESE new year for their symbolic meaning. Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on Chinese New Year dinner on NEW YEARS EVE, which is believed to BRING GOOD LUCK AND PROSPERITY.

1. FISH – for an increase in prosperity

2. dumplings – for wealth

3. spring rolls – for wealth

4. sweet rice – for family bonding

5. good fortune fruits – these include grapes, lychee, plums, DATES and Kumquats, and are for fullness and wealth

6. rice cakes – for a higher salary and career status

7. longevity noodles – for happiness and longevityAs with all celebrations that center around time spent with loved ones, food is a big part of Chinese New Year. Many of the dishes commonly served during the holiday contain foods symbolizing luck, wealth, and good health—all things we’d like to have be part of our year. Here are six foods that both help ensure prosperity during the coming year, and taste great.

CHICKEN LOMEIN

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 CUP RAW CHICKEN BREAST SLICED THIN

• 10-12 ounces lo mein egg noodles* (found IN ASIAN MARKETS)

• 3 tablespoon oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced

• 1 CARROT JULIENNED

• 1 MEDIUM GREEN OR RED PEPPER SLICED THIN

• 1 cup green cabbage or napa cabbage SLICED THIN

• 2 PIECES OF GREEN ONION SLICED FINELY

FOR THE SAUCE

• 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce, or light soy sauce or more, to taste

• 2 teaspoons sugar

• 2 tABLESpoon sesame oil

• 1/2 teaspoon grATED FRESH ginger

• 2 TABLESPOON OYSTER SAUCE OR MORE TO TASTE

• 2 tablespoon of dark soy sauce

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, oyster sauce, sugar, sesame oil, ginger and set aside.

2. heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan. use 2 teaspoon of soy sauce mixture add to small bowl with sliced chicken and mix. Then add chicken to pan and cook for 3 mins and set aside.

3. In a large pot of boiling water, cook noodles according to package instructions. Drain noodles in colander.

4. Heat the 2-3 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add garlic, mushrooms, cabbage, bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring until tender, about 3-4 minutes

5. Stir in noodles and soy sauce mixture to wok and mix well until evenly distributed.

6. top with green onions

7. serve immediately

“LOVE is technically a word. What is implied to its connection is what matters. We get caught up in words when the connections realm meaningless. Action is what matters. This I have learned and offer as action in a new word to plug in the loose connections“. POP Messiah® of POPOLOGY®