If you were born in 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, or 1992, you were born in the Year of the Monkey. This year, the Chinese New Year ushers in the “newest” Year of the Monkey — 2004.
The traditional Chinese Zodiac, based on a 12-year cycle, is represented by different animals. They say that people born in the Year of the Monkey are intelligent, well-liked by everyone, and will have success in any field they choose. Famous people born in the Year of the Monkey include Elizabeth Taylor, Omar Sharif, Roger Daltry, and George Lucas.
Following is a round-up of activities and celebrations for Chinese New Year, which began on January 22 and ends February 5.
Chinese Cooking
Learn about Chinese New Year’s customs and symbolic foods with cookbook author and Princeton resident Angela Chang on Saturday, January 24, at 1 p.m., at Wegmans, Nassau Park. Chang will present a program on the fundamentals of Asian food with sample dishes. Autographed copies of her latest book, “The Intriguing World of Chinese Home Cooking” will be available after the presentation.
Chang writes in the introduction to her book: “Cooking has fascinated me since my childhood in Taiwan, and I attribute this to my mother’s influence. My mother was an extremely hospitable woman who had passion for friends and entertaining. During the month of the Chinese New Year celebration, she would put all the women in the house to work and turn the kitchen into a kind of temporary ‘food factory.’ The scene that continues to touch me in my dreams is of my parents’ old house, packed with visitors, and of the aroma of delectable food that permeated throughout.”
In Plainsboro
Plainsboro Public Library celebrates the Year of the Monkey on Saturday, January 31, from 3 to 6 p.m., with performances, games, dances, ping pong, music, dancing, and Chinese cooking. Events will take place in the library, municipal building, and outdoors throughout the complex, and are all free and open to the public.
The festivities begin with an outdoor presentation of Plainsboro Huaxia Chinese School’s 20-member marching drum corps, under the direction of Qiuyan Wu. The Lion Dance presents magic motions in the plaza.
From 3:30 to 5 p.m. artistic performances will be held in the community room of the municipal building and demonstrations take place in both the municipal building and the library.
Performances in the Municipal Building Community Room include Chinese Songs presented by the Happy Singers, coordinated by Wennie Niu and directed by Chung Ho; Umbrella Dance by the Princeton Chinese Language School, choreographed by Tracy Wang and Christina Yang; and solo pieces by Yingchao Zhang with the Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro.
Folk Dance by the Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro students, choreographed by Dongli Li; Chinese Yo-Yo by the Princeton Chinese Language School; Folk Dance by Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro Parents, choreographed by Dongli Li; Modern Chinese Opera featuring Xiaoquing Li and Yongchi Tian, Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro; and Sword Dance.
Demonstrations in the library and municipal building include Chinese Cooking presented by Asian Food Markets; Chinese Paper Cutting by Allison Kwok; Chinese Knotting with Tracy Wang, Christina Yang, Shirley Liang, and Jenny Liang; Calligraphy with Chunmei Lin and Sumei Xiao; and Go with Bruce Ladendorf.
Games in the library from 5 to 6 p.m. include Pick up M&Ms with Chopsticks, Ring Toss, Dominoes, Red Fish Go Fish, and Stick the Ears on the Panda Bear. The ping pong championship match will be held in the municipal building from 5 to 6 p.m.
The day ends with distribution of red envelopes — a favorite Chinese New Year’s tradition — by Plainsboro Mayor Peter Cantu, Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Congressman Rush Holt, library director Jinny Baeckler, and library board members Liyou Yang and Iris Chang. Traditionally filled with gifts of money, the envelopes at the Plainsboro celebration will be filled with chocolate-filled golden coins. Also available are mounds of oranges, another example of traditional fare for the holiday.
Planning committee members include Iris J. Chang, library board of trustees member; Vicky Gao, stage manager; Weizhen Gao, library staff; Shaolin Liu, principal, Huaxia Chinese School at Plainsboro; Wen Chyi Shyu, principal, Princeton Chinese Language School; and Bonnie Liao, principal, Yinhua Language School.
In New York
For those interested in celebrating Chinese New Year in New York, the Manhattan Chinatown Parade and Lion and Dragon Performance begins at Mulberry Street at Columbus Park, and winds throughout Chinatown, usually along Mott, Canal, and Bayard streets, and along East Broadway. Sunday, January 25, 1 to 3 p.m. For information call 212-226-1330.
