CAYUGA—A packed house full of satisfied guests met Friday, February 9, 2024 at St. John the Divine Church in Cayuga to celebrate the Chinese New Year with Yee Ling Wong and Vicky McClung, who run Cayuga’s free, weekly lunch program, the Cayuga Community Café.
Those lucky enough to be in attendance were treated to an absolutely delicious meal consisting of homemade Chinese Dumpling Soup and homemade spring rolls, in addition to a variety of dessert options, and a ‘Lucky Candy’ in a decorative red and gold envelope to help grant luck for the coming year.
So, why is the Year of the Dragon a big deal? The Chinese zodiac consists of 12 animals – the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig – which rotate each Lunar New Year (similar to monthly Western zodiac signs), with the dragon seen as the luckiest and most desired symbol.
Each new year also alternates between five fundamental elements – wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. With the wood element included in 2024, this year’s dragon signifies a year of development and achievement.
According to the Smithsonian Magazine, birth rates in China tend to boom during dragon years, with many parents believing children born under the dragon sign will be destined for success in life.
Here in Cayuga, the community celebration spearheaded by Wong and McClung gave local residents their first opportunity to participate in the customs and traditions that define the yearly celebration.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever celebrated Chinese New Year in Cayuga before. There’s so few of us,” said McClung.
While the café is open every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the pair decided to do something special this time, coming up with the collaborative menu that combines tastes from the southern Chinese province of Guangzhou, where Wong hails from, and Taiwan, where McClung grew up.
Much like regional differences in food offerings here, options and tastes can range widely across China.
“In Taiwan we had cuisines from all over China. At that time, there was so much migration. Those people went to Taiwan and brought their foods there. That’s why in Taiwan you really have a mixture,” said McClung. “The dumplings are more northern China.”
“Wonton noodle soup is what I like,” added Wong, “But because Vicky likes dumplings, we’re doing a marriage of our two tastes.”
She said the dumplings in the soup are meant to resemble China’s old-fashioned currency: “The money was in silver nuggets. Dumplings are supposed to resemble that.”
McClung added, “We would put coins in some of the dumplings. Not too many though, so whoever gets that one will be especially lucky for the new year.”
That soup, for the record, was a true collaboration of cultures. While McClung prepared the dumplings in her family’s traditional style, in addition to the homemade spring rolls and shrimp chips on offer, Wong filled the bowl with homemade chicken broth (which was seasoned perfectly in this reporter’s humble opinion), homemade barbecue pork slices, Chinese sausage, and bok choy.
There was also a tray full of oranges available, another Chinese New Year tradition, meant to bring good luck and happiness. In Chinese, the words for ‘orange’ and ‘tangerine’ closely resemble the words for ‘luck’ and ‘wealth’.
McClung said that, like our extended holiday period in Canada, Chinese New Year affords people an opportunity to get together with their families.
“Right now, in China especially, people mostly go to the cities to get jobs, but they are from rural areas. For Chinese New Year, they get lots of time off work so they can go home.”
She said back in the day traditions were much more stringent: “Everything was shut down. My husband actually lived in Taiwan for a few years. The first year he was there, he wasn’t prepared. He ended up having nothing to eat because there were no restaurants open. Things have changed a bit now, because most people don’t feel like cooking so they will go out to eat their Chinese New Year dinner.”
She said those from the city returning to their rural family homes for the celebration will typically bring “special gifts,” with McClung noting “fancier foods you wouldn’t be able to buy” as one such gift traditionally shared.
Wong noted, “For Christmas you give presents, but for Chinese New Year the kids get a red envelope with money in it, plus new clothes, because back in the day, China was not rich, so you didn’t get to eat lots of meat in your everyday lives, so Chinese New Year is when you would get to eat, wear new clothes and shoes, and get money.”
St. John the Divine Pastor Cathie Crawford Browning took a few moments before diving into her soup to thank Wong and McClung for their efforts at uniting the community.
“It gives our church the opportunity to reach out in care and support for people in any kind of need, whether that’s a social need or a financial need. To be able to come get a nutritious, cost-free lunch,” mused Crawford, adding how the importance of the fellowship that comes with the food should not be understated.
Crawford reached out to The Press after the event, sharing that in addition to providing free meals every week, the café contributed 1,200lbs of food to the Cayuga Food Bank last year, valued at nearly $4,400.
“We feel privileged to get to partner with Vicky and Yee,” said Crawford.
Asked what motivates them to continue in their weekly efforts, Wong said simply, “We enjoy it.”
The pair wish their community a Happy New Year, symbolized by all the traits that come with the Year of the Dragon: “Good fortune, prosperity, longevity, and health.”
The Cayuga Community Café is open every Friday at St. John’s from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., where each week Wong and McClung are happily waiting to present all who attend with a delicious, nutritious meal, with a heaping side of the nourishing fellowship we all need in our lives.
