Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Farmington

No need to wait for the groundhog’s predicted early end to winter to start to celebrate spring.

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, will be celebrated in Farmington this weekend.

Starting February 3 and celebrated for fifteen days, the Chinese New Year is calculated as the second new moon after the winter solstice. Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China and is celebrated by nearly one quarter of the world's population.

The Chinese year 4709, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit, which symbolizes happiness and prosperity.

Eating certain foods at New Year’s such as lettuce, noodles, dumplings and spring rolls are believed to increase fortune.  Farmington offers a great choice of Asian restaurants to test the theory this weekend. 

, 1067 Farmington Ave., 860-678-8880 will host a Dragon Dance on Sunday. A group of 12 dancers will perform a lion dance inside and outside the restaurant from noon to 12:30 p.m., “to scare the evils away for the new year” explained owner Dennis Chui. A traditional dim sum lunch will be served. The event has been a New Year’s tradition since the restaurant opened in 1998, with families returning every year.

“We are a Hong Kong-style restaurant” Chui said. “All our dishes are authentic.” Asked if he had a wish for the New Year Chui replied with a smile “I hope for a better year. So far Mother Nature has not helped.”

A Hong Kong Native, Chui has owned other restaurants in Connecticut but said “Farmington is the best place to do business.” So good, his wife, who is from Hanoi, recently opened just down the street serving traditional Vietnamese food.

Other Asian restaurants in town include:

, located in Talcott Plaza, 230 Farmington Ave., 860-677-1110 

, located in the Westfarms Plaza, 1600 S East Rd,  860-674-1311, which is offering a special New Year’s menu. 

, 95 S. Main St, Unionville, 860-675-1668. 

 located in Post Office Square, 206 Main St., 860-676-8193