What foods will I eat at a Chinese New Year bash

A.� In northern China, the weeks before the holiday, which starts this year on February 12, are devoted to preparation of foods for the festivities. Many families make meat dumplings called jiaozi - chopped pork and cabbage, salt ginger, spring onions and ground white and black pepper in a thin wrapper of dough. In southern parts of the country, these dumplings are formed in the shape of gold and silver ingots (yuan bao) that were used as money in ancient China.

Large houses in China might prepare thousands of dumplings, if they don't have a freezer, they're generally left on racks to freeze in unheated rooms. They are usually served warm with a selection dipping sauces. They're very convenient because knives and scissors must be avoided at New Year - they might cut through one's good fortune.

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Q.� What is a typical meal

A.� The dumplings are served as appetisers or side dishes. Most families slaughter a pig for the main New Year's feast and make bean curd, sausages and special wine. The meal usually begins on New Year's Eve, late in the afternoon. There will be vegetables - cabbage, turnips. dried mushrooms - pork, chicken, fish (the 'trinity' of wealth, health and luck) and seasfood. Wealthier families serve sea cucumbers, shark's fin, bird's nests and 'lions' heads' (giant prok meatballs). 'Eight precious rice' is another traditional favourite: sweet sticky rice with lotus seeds, almond seeds, sliced red dates, candied fruits, sweet bean paste and brown sugar syrup. White rice is also served, as well as wine and other spirits. It's traditionally a time for families and friends to gather. Most houses will stock up on snack foods such as watermelon seeds, sesame candy, sliced salted eggs, roasted peanuts and pears, oranges and cakes.

During this time, offerings to the gods and ancestors are made - to give thanks for getting through one winter and welcome in the New Year.

In southern areas of China, in the rice regions, the rice is washed clean several days before the feast begin. This special rice is called 'rain for 10,000 year (wan nian liang). Sweets like rice pudding and the New Year cake, nian gao, are served. Most families will have turnip cake, nine-layer cake and sticky cake.

'Hair vegetable' - a type of seaweed that looks like matted hair, is a traditional delicacy.

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Q.� What is this year in the Chinese calendar

A.� In the Chinese Lunar calendar the year 4699 begins on February 12 2002. This year is a leap year which means it has 13 months. 2002 (4699) is the Year of the Horse - your animal year comes round every 12 years, so if you are a horse you were born in 1990, 1978 and so on. Traditionally Chinese New Year celebrations last 15 days, culminating in the Lantern Festival.

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By Katharine MacColl