Welcome the Year of the Snake!

Out goes the Year of the Dragon for 2024 and in comes the Year of the Snake for 2025! The Snake sign is the sixth animal in the Chinese zodiac following the Dragon. If you were born in one of these years, your Chinese Zodiac sign is the Snake: 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941. 

Legend said that the snake fell from heaven, dethroning the Dragon. The Snake is often referred to as the “baby dragon” and considered very shy, hiding in the grass or holes and appearing with a flicking fork tongue and slithering movement has given the Snake a bad rap. Snakes are often perceived as sly, conniving, and not to be trusted. Much of our modern perception of the snake started from early teachings of the temptation with the “apple in paradise.” 

On January 29, 2025, Asian communities worldwide will celebrate the Year of the Snake and according to statistica.com, in 2024, around 1.4 billion people celebrated Chinese New Year!  

FOOD is at the center of the Chinese New Year Celebration! I met up with Joe Selerat and Kathy Chitchop, owners of KJ Sushi and Asian Bistro on Marco, and we reviewed their menu for a list of lucky dishes with special meanings and symbols when eaten during the Chinese Lunar New Year.  

Every lucky food seems to have a story that lays out your fortune for the coming year. And how you begin the new year is often a reflection of how the rest of the year unfolds. It is the year of the Snake – don’t get snakebit! 

Spring Rolls, a must-have during Chinese New Year, are delicious appetizers found on menus at many Asian restaurants. They are usually filled with vegetables or meat and fried to a golden color, symbolizing prosperity. Spring rolls have a traditional Chinese origin and can be fried, steamed, or baked. Symbols of wealth! 

Egg Rolls emerged from American Chinese Chefs in the 1930s in New York City. It is a variation of the Spring roll and usually has a thicker outer wrapper and is always fried. These crispy rolls taste delicious when served with sweet chili or soy-based dipping sauce!  

Dumplings are all about wealth and family. Little pockets of dough with a delicious filling of vegetables or meat are believed to bring prosperity and wealth. As an ancient practice, they used to wrap a coin inside one lucky dumpling symbolizing good fortune. In the “old country,” the art of making dumplings was often passed down through the family and the New Year celebration starts with dumpling making as a family activity. Families bond over dumpling preparation and the re-telling of family tall tales. 

Noodles of any kind - short, long, flat, or rolled - are an essential part of the Chinese New Year celebration with the blessing of “may you live long and prosper.” It’s customary not to cut or break the noodles, and eating unbroken strands will bring good health and long life. The Singapore noodles (rice vermicelli noodles) are a popular Asian stir-fry dish. 

Shrimp symbolizes happiness and liveliness. Shrimp in Chinese is pronounced "haa" which sounds like laughter, as in happiness! Their red color, when cooked, is also a lucky color. Shrimp stir-fry is a popular dish! 

Vegetables are essential in Chinese cuisine and consuming a lot of vegetables is good for your future health! Buddha’s Delight is a popular dish representing renewal.  

A New Year’s celebration is not complete without eating oranges and tangerines or anything round and orange or by displaying a bowl of these fruits in your home. Part of the Chinese New Year’s tradition is the belief that by eating oranges during the festivities, you are inviting good fortune and joy to your life. 

Wishing you a prosperous year of the Snake! Celebrate the Year of the Snake with Lucky Foods at KJ Sushi and Asian Bistro located at 537 Bald Eagle Drive (formerly Sue’s Garden). For more information, visit  kjasianbistro.com/ or call 239-394-4666.