Celebrating Lunar New Year with Wanqi Chen

Wanqi in front of the quadrangle building in Galway.

Hi my name is Wanqi. I’m currently studying a postgraduate programme in Informations System Management (MSc). I am from Chengdu, China, which is a very popular tourist city with various historical attractions, natural wonders, cultural diversity, and delicious food.

Lunar New Year could be considered one of the most important traditional festivals in China because it symbolises a family gathering and good wishes for the next whole year. For me personally, there are so many warm memories of Lunar New Year from my childhood and early adulthood and I’m happy to share what a traditional day of celebrating looked like for myself.

First, all our family members try every effort to back home before the lunar 30th January. Then during the day, we often go to our grandma’s house and prepare lunch together. The traditional new year dishes in my city include Shi Jin (assorted stew with various meats and vegetables), Ba Bao Fan (sweet glutinous rice with preserved fruit), Liang Ban Ji (shredded chicken with spicy sauce), Spring Roll and Tian shao Bai (pork with red bean paste covered by sweet, steamed rice). Besides, there are some special local foods like Sichuan Sausage and Sichuan cured meat, both are handmade. During the afternoon, we talk together about last year while playing Mahjong (a tile-based game) or watching TV.

After a rich dinner meal, we go to the suburbs to play beautiful fireworks which roots from an old tale, the Nian monster is afraid of fire, and it is important to drive it away to get good luck during next year.

Traditional dish served during Lunar New Year
Traditional Spring Roll served during Lunar New Year.

Now I am based in Galway, and it is my first time celebrating this festival by myself. Considering the available food and seasoning, I plan to cook kind of easier traditional foods like dumplings with my friends for this festival. Moreover, I will video call with my family to share the festive atmosphere online.

My traditional Chinese dish

Dumpling is a traditional Chinese food, which can contain whatever you want. As one Southerner, dumplings are not our festival food, but it is still suitable for the Lunar New Year because they are quite fun to make with family or friends together. There are some basic steps for homemade dumplings and please feel free to DIY.

Raw materials include three main things: plain flour, water, and stuffing. For this recipe, I’ve also added ginger, celery and some mince.

Traditional dumpling ingredients.

The first step is preparing dumpling skin. Adding water to the flour and remember the percentage of water and flour is 1:2. After mixing up completely, add a little bit of salt and then store this dough for 20 minutes. Then roll it for 3 minutes and store it again. After 20 minutes, roll it for 3 minutes and store it for 60 minutes.

Dumpling mixture.

While dealing with flour, it is convenient to prepare stuffings. It could be anything you like. I choose celery and meat mince as stuffings.

The funniest part is making dumpling skins. Making a hole in the centre part of this dough and scrolling it into a ring. Then cut it into half and cut small squares from the strip. Use a rolling pin to try your best to make the square round.

Rolled dumplings.

The next step is putting some stuffing into the centre part of the flour circle and closing it. You can make some wave shapes if you like. Remember the key point is keeping the dumpling ‘locked’.

Stuffed dumplings.

Okay, it is time to boil dumplings. Put some of them into boiling water and wait for the water to boil. Once it boils, add some cold water and wait for it to boil again. When it starts boiling, add some cold water again. Then after it boils, just remove them into a plate and it is time to eat. I would like to use chilli oil but this time I just use some vinegar and it tastes good.

Dumplings finished and served.