World Food - Asian

Here are Chinese customs that help ring in the New Year:

Each family prepares a huge feast on New Years Eve. Food items are symbolic and represent wishes for the upcoming year.
The Chinese zodiac system holds that each year is named after an animal.
People travel long distances and bring gifts of fruit, flowers, melon seeds and cakes to kick off the festivities.
The entire celebration lasts well over a month. Preparation for the New Year begins about two weeks ahead of time and continues for 15 days following the New Year.
The new year celebration concludes with a Lantern Festival honoring the first full moon of the year.