Chinese New Year Traditions and the Easiest Yummy Chinese Stirfry Noodles
For many years I would go into each of my three children’s classrooms each year and share about Chinese New Year Traditions and making the Easiest Yummy Chinese Stir-fry Noodles for the entire class! I always loved how the my children’s classmates would see me in the school yard or on field trips and they would beg me to come and make those Chinese Noodles! I would even have parents email and text me asking for the recipe every year!
See a video below of me and Krissy from CTV Morning Live making Chinese New Year stir-fry noodles!
It seriously is the easiest short-cut Chinese noodles I have ever made, and I put this short cut recipe together because when you are teaching and making noodles for three classes of 25-30 kids, you have to make it easy, affordable and, of course, yummy! Read on for Chinese New Year Traditions and the Easiest Yummy Chinese Stir-fry Noodles!
I thought I would quickly share here some quick fun facts about Chinese New Year Traditions and the Easiest Yummy Chinese Stir-fry Noodles recipe!
Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunar Chinese calendar. Most of all, it is a time to visit and feast with family members.
Celebrations last for about two weeks, from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival, which is held on the 15th day of the lunar year.
There are many interesting superstitions and traditions or customs to help say goodbye to the old year and to welcome or bring in luck and prosperity of a new year.
A Few Chinese New Year Traditions and Superstitions:
Pulling An All Nighter
Staying up all night to welcome the new year with fireworks on New Year’s Eve was done because of an ancient legend to scare off a monster that would eat villagers. And staying up all night as an entire family would bring good luck!
Clean Up Before New Year’s
It is not permitted to sweep or clean during new years as sweeping would mean bad luck as you would be sweeping out the good luck out of the house. So clean up the house before new year’s!
No Cutting
It is bad luck to cut food or even your own hair or nails during new year’s as it would mean cutting off good fortune and good luck from your new year. So get haircuts and groomed before the new year’s celebrations!
Lanterns
Lanterns are not only beautiful but they represent a wish for hope and a bright future. The red ones have the special meaning for a prosperous business and a great life for the new year!
Little Red Envelopes
Red and gold are the luckiest colours. Red in particular is a powerful colour that represents energy, happiness and good luck. When money is given in red envelopes it represent giving blessing and happiness. The tradition is married people give red envelopes (with an even number like $2, $10, $20, so on) to unmarried children.
It is proper to always receive with both hands and it is impolite to open the envelope in front of the giver.
Family Meals
New year celebration is all about the food! It is a very important time for family reunions and gathering. Starting the new year with family is of vital importance and worth travelling far to get together.
- Noodles represent happiness and long life. The longer the noodles the better!
- Oranges and tangerines represent good fortune and wealth.
- Lucky dumplings and spring rolls represent how much money and wealth you will have in the New year. Dumplings and spring rolls are thought to bring wealth and important to have on the new year’s table.
- Sweet rice balls represent family unity, gathering, and reunion.
- Clams and Rice both represent prosperity, wealth and abundance.
- Fish is a very important food representing prosperity. Even the positioning of the fish on the table was important. For example, the head should face any distinguished guest, or the oldest at the table, like grandparents, and should not be moved once placed, as this is a sign of luck to those near the head of the fish.
MRS. COMEAU’S EASY & YUMMY CHINESE STIR-FRY NOODLES
SIX INGREDIENTS:
- 1 package of lo mein noodles
- sesame oil or vegetable oil
- 1 package of shredded broccoli slaw
- 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken (optional)
- ¼ cup Teriyaki sauce
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
Or make this yummy sauce instead of using Teriyaki Sauce!
Wisk all the ingredients below together:
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp coconut sugar
- 3 tsp sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp Sriracha
THREE EASY STEPS:
- Boil water in a large pot, and quickly soak noodles according to package instructions and drain well.
- Heat oil in a large pan or wok over medium high heat. Add chicken and bag of broccoli slaw. Stir frequently, until tender.
- Stir in drained noodles and sauce. Gently toss. Add broth as needed if noodles are looking dry.
Serve and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy the Chinese New Year Traditions and the Easiest Yummy Chinese Stir-fry Noodles!
Wishing you a very happy new year,
Elaine Tan Comeau
Comments
Great recipe. Easy , and very tasty!!