The Year of the Rat | The Honolulu Advertiser

Comment, blog & share photos

The Year of the Rat | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Year of the Rat

Photo gallery: Year of the Rat

StoryChat: Comment on this story

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Staff writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Chinatown’s the place to be, with a parade, food and firecrackers.

Year of the Rat trinkets are on sale at Xin Xin Fashion Wholesale Festival in Chinatown.

Photos by REBECCA BREYER | The Honolulu Advertiser

Chien Lung Arts & Curios Inc. celebrates Chinese New Year with fanciful decorations.

The lion is poised to roar and romp this weekend in Chinatown, to herald Chinese New Year, along with firecrackers, a parade and street festival. The rituals welcome the lunar Year of the Rat, on Feb. 7.

"It's the biggest holiday festival for the Chinese community," said Ted Li, chairman of the annual Narcissus Festival. He also oversees the Chinatown festivities which include a block party that attracts locals and visitors. Expect crowds, with festival activities anchored at the Chinatown Cultural Plaza Friday and Saturday and a daylong street festival Saturday on Maunakea Street.

• • •

If you go ...

Heading for the Chinese New Year's celebration in Chinatown? Some helpful hints:

Best one-stop place to get a perspective on the cultural aspects of Chinese New Year:

A free lobby display at the main branch of Hawai'i National Bank, 45 N. King St., in Chinatown, viewable during banking hours now through Feb. 22, featuring artifacts, including Chinese musical instruments, clothing, lion's heads and more, and other enlightening elements. Details: 528-7711.

Seasonal items

Narcissus bulbs, the favored plant (valued for its beauty) for Chinese New Year

Waichun, good-luck sayings on red paper, with Chinese calligraphy promising longevity, double happiness, good health and prosperity

Li see paper, red envelopes in which coins or dollar bills are inserted and handed out for good luck

Amulets, to display at home or in your car, symbolizing good fortune or good health

Year of the Rat T-shirts

Fare from vendors and Chinatown merchants

Jai, vegetarian monk’s food

Gin doi, a kind of holeless Chinese doughnut that can have black bean or coconut filling

Gau, a steamed Chinese pudding of mochi rice, brown sugar and often with coconut, sprinkled with sesame seeds and punctuated with a red date

Jook, thick rice soup — great comfort food

Dim sum, assorted pasta skins filled with pork, seafood, even chicken; bao, steamed or baked buns laden with pork, chicken or black sugar

Nibbles to enjoy

Tong go, candied fruits and vegetables such as coconut, carrots, squash and ginger

Mini custard pies

Hong Kong-style breads and rolls

Almond cookies

Puffed-rice cakes

Noodles, the long strands symbolizing long life.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.

• • •

From the editor: StoryChat was designed to promote and encourage healthy comment and debate. We encourage you to respect the views of others and refrain from personal attacks or using obscenities.

By clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos