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| photo by Muffet |
The Chinese year of the tiger ends and the rabbit pounces forward on February 3. The celebration ends 15 days later with the Lantern Festival of the full moon.
During the year of the rabbit, good taste and refinement will reign supreme. It will be a quiet and calm time full of good feelings. The rabbit is said to be the most fortunate of the 12 signs.
But if you don't want to leave it completely up to the pesky bunny, there are a few traditions the Chinese say will help catapult you into extreme fortune. We've compiled a list.
Tangerines: The sweet droplets from the tangerine look like gold and in Cantonese, tangerine sounds much like
luck, so buy a bunch and put them out in bowls throughout the house.
Fish: The word for fish,
yu, sounds like both
wish and
abundance in Cantonese, so serve some up and you may get a bit of both.
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| photo by Sir Snaps-a-lot |
Noodles: It goes without saying, the longer your noodle- the longer your life.
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| photo by Virtual Ern |
Grapefruit: If you are fortunate enough to see one of these at your local grocer, pick it up and eat it slowly because it will bring you prosperity and status.
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| photo by Albisola |
Chicken: Like many cultures, the Chinese roast a whole chicken for a family meal to symbolize the family togetherness.
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| photo by Steven DePolo |
Lettuce wraps: Who knew these little gems would bring you good fortune? Well the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds very similar to "rising fortune," so fill it with other lucky foods and double your odds.
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| photo by Norwhichnuts |
Clams: If you're hoping for some cash to roll in this year dig into a big plate of clams. These little steamers symbolize wealth.
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| photo by Japhari |
Spring Rolls: Want to double your odds? Add some spring rolls. With their shape like "gold bars", the crunchy treats not only fill your stomach but possibly your wallet too.
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| photo by Adactio |
Steamed sweet cakes: If none of these things appeal to you, just skip ahead to the sweet steamed cakes. These round sticky rice cakes symbolize a rich sweet life, which ultimately is what we all want.
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| photo by Yomi 955 |
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