S U N H E E ... M O O N

my favorite holiday besides thanksgiving is korean new years, similar to chinese new year. it brings to mind memories of the year that just past and the limitless hope of the year to come. traditionally for me, every new year begins with a family gathering. my mom usually cooks an amazing new year feast, symbolic foods that represent good luck. the idea is to start the new year on a full stomach so that you will have a full stomach throughout the year. we also bow to our parents to honor them. when i was younger, my brothers and i would bow to our parents and they would give us a lecture...say to do well in school, be good people, essentially give us advise, and to voice their expectations of us. this usually followed with an envelope with cash, sometimes it was 5 dollars, the older you were, the more money they gave you. the idea was to start the new year with money in your pocket, so that you will have money all year long. as my brothers and i are now adults, we still bow to our parents and listen to their sage advise, but now we give them an envelope of money. i love this tradition. tomorrow is the beginning day of the year of the dog. my advise is to eat well all day so you will eat well all year, and to be nice to others with kind words and actions. here is a list of foods to enjoy for good luck and a forecast of the new year.

enjoy a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance, and a chicken for prosperity. The chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness. Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.

http://www.dragonastrology.com/