Featured Food Holidays

Chinese New Year Traditions: Year of the Pig

January 18, 2019

This post was sponsored by Ling Ling, all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Around this time last year I was in West Los Angeles celebrating Chinese New Year with Chef Katie Chin and Ling Ling Asian Kitchen. Chef Chin not only cooked up a mean family-style dinner, but she also taught us all about Chinese New Year traditions and superstitions.

I do my best to introduce other cultures into my son’s upbringing since there’s so much more to this world than our little corner of the world and holidays are some of the best ways to do this!

On February 5th we’re celebrating the Year of the Pig and, in anticipation, we made some crafts as a family and talked about the things I learned at last year’s event.

Step 1: Get Busy with Crafts

Since Fox loves art and working with his hands, I cut out some pieces for him to assemble while we talked. He made a googly-eyed pig after helping me construct a paper chain dragon, both of which he proudly displayed in his room.

Step 2: Fill Our Bellies

Fox was very impressed with the mandarin pyramid that awaited him on his crafting table. I explained to him that mandarins are said to bring luck during the Chinese New Year and he agreed we should have plenty with a display like that. 

While we crafted, my husband cooked up some Ling Ling Fried Potstickers that we bought at our local Tops Friendly Markets. They come in chicken, pork, and vegetarian, although we always wind up with the chicken version in our cart. Chef Chin made these for us as appetizers before the big dinner and I was amazed at how well they crisp up and how fast they are to make. These are perfect for passing at a party, especially if you’re celebrating the Year of the Pig with friends and family! They also come with a yummy dipping sauce so you don’t have to worry about buying an extra item at the store.

Step 3: Let’s Talk Traditions + Superstitions

While we ate and crafted, we talked about some of the traditions and superstitions surrounding Chinese New Year. Here are some of my favorites:

Sweeping and cleaning are forbidden — Make sure your house is clean ahead of the holiday, otherwise you’ll sweep all your luck out the door if you’re tidying up day of.

Don’t wash your hair — You’ll wash away good luck.

Buy yourself some new shoes and clothes — preferably red!

If you were born during the Year of the Pig (1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019) you are said to be compassionate, generous, and diligent. If you were, do you think that rings true for you?

Sarabeth, The February Fox

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12 Comments

  • Reply Jandrew February 8, 2019 at 1:20 pm

    I love this post , the dumplings look delicious . I’m a first time visitor and love to explore blogs .
    I write a fashion blog and recently wrote on the year of the Pig.
    Have a great year of the pig .
    Jandrew
    Dress The Part
    https://www.jandrewspeaks.com

  • Reply Emma Sivewright January 2, 2023 at 10:03 am

    Chinese New Year is a time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the coming one. One of the traditions during this time is to eat a meal called the hog festival. This meal is usually made with pork, and many people believe that eating pork during the Chinese New Year will bring them good luck in the coming year. Spinal Specialist Near Me

  • Reply Denial Leaonardo January 2, 2023 at 11:33 pm

    Chinese New Year is a time for families to get together and celebrate. There are a number of traditions that are associated with the holiday, such as eating a lot of food, giving and receiving gifts, and decorating your home. One tradition that many people don’t know about is the Year of the Pig. multi unit builders melbourne

  • Reply Elizabeth January 3, 2023 at 12:06 am

    Chinese New Year is a celebrated holiday in many Asian countries. It is a time to rejoice and give thanks for the past year, and look forward to the coming year. Some traditions associated with Chinese New Year include eating special foods, exchanging gifts, and visiting family and friends. One of the most popular traditions is celebrating the Year of the Pig. Orthodontics Willoughby

  • Reply Shane long January 3, 2023 at 3:48 am

    Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate with family and friends. Traditions vary from family to family, but some of the most popular include eating special foods and giving gifts. One of the most popular gifts to give is a pig. Bathroom Renovations Indooroopilly

  • Reply Richerd Smith January 3, 2023 at 4:40 am

    Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate the arrival of the year of the pig. There are many traditions associated with the holiday, including eating pork, giving and receiving gifts, and decorating homes and offices with festive decorations. wood flooring Adelaide

  • Reply Kurt widderick January 3, 2023 at 5:19 am

    Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate family and friends, and to get in the spirit of the year. Here are some of the traditions that are popular in China during this time of year. Electrician Wakerley

  • Reply Alex Yap January 3, 2023 at 6:31 am

    Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together and share traditions. Here are some of the most popular Chinese New Year traditions in the United States. Home Builders Perth

  • Reply Lynton Electrical January 3, 2023 at 9:19 am

    When it comes to Chinese New Year traditions, there are a lot of different things that people can do. Some people celebrate by exchanging gifts, while others enjoy a meal of pork. Some people even go so far as to stuff themselves full of delicious food! Whatever your favorite New Year tradition is, be sure to comment and let us know about it! Electrician Lane Cove

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    Chinese New Year is a time for families and friends to get together and celebrate the new year. Traditions surrounding the New Year vary by location, but there are some common customs that are observed by most people. One of the most popular Chinese New Year traditions is eating a pork dish. Electrician Greenwood

  • Reply Steve Martenzs January 3, 2023 at 11:30 pm

    Chinese New Year is a time to celebrate with family and friends. Here are some of the traditions associated with the Year of the Pig. pest and building inspection maitland

  • Reply Hot Ride March 22, 2024 at 11:06 am

    Exciting times ahead as we celebrate the Year of the Pig! Looking forward to learning more about Chinese New Year traditions and festivities. Car Detailing in Liverpool

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