Question 1: Today’s image features the dragon dance, a traditional dance form of …
- China
- Nepal
- Mongolia
Correct Answer: China
Fact: A time-honored tradition in Chinese culture, the dragon dance is a mainstay during Chinese New Year celebrations. The dance typically begins with the dragon’s body being brought out of a temple to the rhythm of drums and gongs. Its head and tail are then attached, followed by the dotting of its eyes, which is believed to bring it to life. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of luck and prosperity.
Question 2: Which of these is a popular dish served in Chinese households on the first day of the Chinese New Year?
- Buddha’s Delight
- Katsu curry
- Eight Treasures Porridge
Correct Answer: Buddha’s Delight
Fact: Luóhàn zhāi, or Buddha’s Delight, is a vegetarian dish that’s traditionally eaten by Buddhist monks. It’s packed with an array of wholesome ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, napa cabbage, and snow peas, all cooked in a soy sauce-based broth. As a meat-free dish, it’s rooted in the Buddhist tradition of observing a vegetarian diet during the first five days of the new year, which symbolizes self-purification and mindfulness.
Question 3: Where is the largest Chinese New Year festival in the US?
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco
- New York City
Correct Answer: San Francisco
Fact: First held in 1851, the San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade has grown to be the largest such event in the US, and it’s one of the biggest Chinese New Year celebrations in the world. The parade features floats, lion dancers, acrobats, and hundreds of thousands of firecrackers.