Gung Hay Fat Choy


 

Chinese New Year 2023 is a Year of the Rabbit, more specifically, Water Rabbit, starting from January 22nd, 2023, and lasting until February 9th, 2024. The rabbit is the symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese Culture, 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope. 

 As I mentioned before, I always enjoyed the Chinese New Year as a school kid. One year our teacher gave out the red money envelopes - with a dollar in each one, which back in the '60s, was quite generous. 

 After church, we had Chinese for lunch. Our regular place was closed - so we went to another place and since it was just for lunch and I am not a big lunch eater, I had chicken chow mein and a vegetable spring roll. It was delicious. Oh and a fortune cookie! 

 Did you know that the fortune cookie is actually from Japan? The fortune cookie likely arrived in the United States along with Japanese immigrants who came to Hawaii and California between the 1880s and early 1900s, after the Chinese Exclusion Act’s expulsion of Chinese workers left a demand for cheap labor. Japanese bakers set up shop in places such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, making miso and sesame-flavored “fortune cookie-ish” crackers, among other treats. 
As a kid, we were taught that San Francisco was the origin of the Fortune cookie at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park somewhere in the 1890s. Back in the 1980s, I remember a public riff between San Francisco and Los Angeles as to who owned the bragging rights. The court favored San Francisco and determined that the cookie originated with Hagiwara and the court ruled in favor of San Francisco. Subsequently, the city of Los Angeles condemned the decision. The battle no doubt continues... 

 During the War, with the Japanese being interned, Chinese bakers picked up the slack. 




 Lord willing, next month we are planning to go to Weaverville for the Chinese New Year parade. The Joss House (Chinese temple) will be open as well.

One reason I love California is the diverse culture we have always enjoyed. 


7 comments:

  1. I did not know some of this, and our granddaughter is Chinese!

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  2. That was interesting. My grandson went to a New Year festival with his friends. He said the food was expensive but he enjoyed the experience. My grandpa worked with the Chinese on the railroads and learned to cook some Chinese food. Sadly there was a mass shooting today here in California at a NY festival. Hopefully the community will be able to still have a hopeful future!

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    1. Yes I heard about that up here in Nor Cal. Just horrible.
      That is really interesting about your Grandfather, working on the railroads with the Chinese. It is a huge part of California's history.

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  3. Dearest Debby,
    That is almost telepathy as Pieter and I were talking last night about 'Americanized' Chinese food in our area. Then I mentioned the most authentic Chinese food you can find in San Francisco's China Town—the biggest outside of China.
    We both went there during our days of frequently traveling to the Pescadero Mushroom Farm in Santa Cruz.
    Flying back to Atlanta with bags full of veggies from China Town...
    Fond memories!
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  4. Happy Year of the Rabbit. I do hope that this truly is a year of hope.

    God bless.

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