Last
January 23, 2012 marked the beginning of the two-week celebration of
the Chinese New
Year, and you know it’ll be a good Year of the Water Dragon when
Manila Hotel kicked it all off, which started at 9:30 in the evening
of the 22nd. As Marites Allen gave out her Feng Shui expertise to
usher in the New Year also known worldwide as the Spring Festival. Let me share you my experience of it as a seasoned first timer.
There is always the first time. As Margot Fonteyn uttered," Minor things can become moments of great revelation when encountered for the first time."
It is the first time I truly realized what it is all about. The New Year or the Spring festival is the most celebrated occasion as it is not just about holidaying but a time to reflect on the essence of ancient customs. Chinese people believe that as they enter a new year, they should drop the last year into the past. Like what Marites Allen have suggested accordingly that people should clean the houses from top to bottom, wear new clothes, pay off debts, paint their doors and window panes, and even get new haircuts. Traditional Chinese New Year facts bring forth the essence of new life and new hopes.
At 11:50 the countdown hurled on as guests all gathered outside the Manila Hotel building, Armed with out-poured wishful thinking, a pentel pen and a balloon. According to Ms Allen, the symbolic act of letting your balloon into the sky, where your wishes for the 2012 written on the balloon is believed to go to God so he can answer your wishes.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4,3,2,1... Everyone counted backwards along with the resonating sound not far (for on the Luneta Grandstand a party for counted also was held).
At the struck of the clock to the 12th hour, balloons flew to the midnight sky, followed by the majestic fireworks.
An auspicious buffet dinner followed after. With the ceremonial Lo Hei stirring up all our appetite.
And now, let me tell you all about the auspicious meal that was prepared, definitely a first time for me also.
On our table, I was chosen to be the one to do the ritual preparation for the salad for the Lo Hei.
Yu Sheng, is what the salad is called, is a popular raw fish salad traditionally served on the 7th
day of the Chinese New Year season, which the Chinese celebrate as
everyone's birthday. It's a tradition for families to toss the salad
while calling out Lo Hei!, which means to whip up or toss up good
fortune. It's believed that the higher you toss the salad, the greater
your luck and prosperity in the New Year.
Yu Sheng is made with fresh fish such as salmon, peanuts (which
symbolize longevity), raw vegetables such as turnips, cucumbers and carrots,
wanton crackers, dried fruits , diced ripened mangoes, roasted and crushed sesame seeds, to be seasoned with white and black pepper and finally dressing it with plum sauce.
Everyone on every table participated with gladness, careful not to spill any of the ingredient on the salad bowl. It was the most fun part of the dining experience.
After the salad had been tossed with the chanting and all, we feasted with it (probably the best salad and had whipped up) and with what Manila Hotel's Executive Chinese Chef Sun Bing had prepared. Eating together is an important part of the celebration, the dishes symbolizes luck, longevity, and wealth for the coming year. With that, Mabuhay Palace offered a wide array of sumptuous meals including Steamed Garoupa Fillet in Brown Sauce, Dried Fried Shrimp Glazed with Almonds, and the traditional Nian Gao. Fish, which is usually served whole, is an important part of the meal as it symbolizes abundance for the year ahead. The Deep Fried Shrimps, on the other hand, signifies happiness and well-being for the entire family. A permanent dish on the dining table, the Nian Gao or Tikoy symbolizes the togetherness of the family and its usual circular shape represents the never ending flow of luck.
This happened to be my plate, I guess I gobbled up to many Yu Sheng leaving a small room for all the other dishes.
The captivating aroma of Jasmine tea even harmonized everything up
My dessert plate consisted of Sticky rice ball (Buchi), assorted fruits, and specially prepared tikoy.
Fruit Salad with almond jelly |
Again, Manila Hotel had presented an exemplary New Year celebration with a countdown that matched any countdowns I have ever experienced.
Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái!
Kung Hei Fa Choi...
Xīn Nián Kuài Lè. . .
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