🐉 It's a Chinese New Year Celebration, Steamy-Style! 🧧

  Hello, {NAME}! It’s that time of year again: Lunar New Year! Hold onto your chopsticks because this year is the Year of the Dragon! 🐉 (Or more specifically, the wood dragon!) What does that mean for the year ahead? The Dragon is considered the luckiest of the zodiac animals, so you can expect good fortune for this year! It's a time of unprecedented opportunity, and we get the chance to utilize the Dragon's intellect and fluidity to create the year we want. Of course, these perks are not quite as potent as they are for those who were born in the Year of the Dragon. In fact... DID YOU KNOW? The Dragon is considered so auspicious that birth rates see a significant spike during the Year of the Dragon.  We're welcoming in this Chinese New Year with facts and feasts alike, and we want you to be part of the magic. So get ready to celebrate this special time of year with us, Steamy Kitchen-style!    - Based on Lunar Calendar: Chinese New Year is determined by the lunar calendar and typically falls between January 21 and February 20. The exact date changes every year. - Zodiac Animals: Each year is associated with one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. 2024, for example, is the Year of the Dragon. - Festival Duration: The festival traditionally lasts for 15 or 16 days, with the first seven days being the most significant. It concludes with the Lantern Festival. - Red Decorations: Red is the dominant color used in decorations. It's considered auspicious and symbolizes good fortune and joy. - Red Envelopes: It's a tradition to give red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money to children and unmarried adults to transfer fortune and wish good luck. - Fireworks and Firecrackers: These are set off to scare away evil spirits and to celebrate the coming of the New Year. The custom is rooted in an ancient legend about a monster named Nian. - Dragon and Lion Dances: These are traditional performances involving elaborate costumes and are believed to bring good luck and drive away evil spirits. - Lantern Festival: Marking the end of the festivities, the Lantern Festival is celebrated at night with parades of colorful lanterns, often with riddles written on them for entertainment. Want more fun facts?  [Check Out More Fun Chinese New Year Facts Here!](    Chinese New Year Roundup  If you're wondering what to cook for the New Year (and the 15 days that follow) we're here to make sure you never run out of recipe ideas. In our Chinese New Year Roundup, you'll find a MASSIVE list of amazing recipes, including some of my very own traditional family recipes! (My [Mother's Famous Chinese Egg Rolls]( are to die for.)  [Click Here For ALL The Recipes!](     Start a Memory Jar! During the days leading up to Chinese New Year, encourage the family to write their favorite memories of the past year, and place them in a jar. Once Chinese New Year's Eve hits, open the jar and indulge in the memories. (You might want to do this before Chinese New Year Day, as speaking of the past on this day is sometimes seen as hindering new opportunities.) Keep the jar or start a new one for the year ahead and capture a full year of memories for NEXT Chinese New Year! [Read the Full Rundown Here!](    Explore More on Our Website Hungry for more? For more detailed Chinese New Year recipes, helpful resources, and a whole lot of culinary goodness, head over to our website [steamykitchen.com](. Stay Connected with Us! Don't miss out on any of our upcoming holiday tips, recipes, and adventures. Follow us on social media and join our food-loving community: [Instagram]( Share the Joy of the Lunar New Year with Us! We'd love to hear from you! Share your Chinese New Year food and crafting ideas with us! Tag us on social media or drop us a line. Let's celebrate the New Year together, one delicious dish at a time. 📸✨  Have a beautiful week!   Don't miss our Weekly Updates! Make sure to whitelist hello@steamykitchen.com to avoid our emails ending up in Spam or Promotions folders. Here are some instructions on how to do so for [Gmail]( and [Outlook](. Sent to: {EMAIL} [Unsubscribe]( Steamy Kitchen, Inc., 2505 Anthem Village Dr #E428 , Henderson, Nevada 89052, United States