Good Luck Life - by Rosemary Gong (Paperback)

From the Back Cover

Good Luck Life is the first book to explain the meanings of Chinese rituals and to offer advice on when and how to plan for Chinese holidays and special occasions such as Chinese weddings, the Red Egg and Ginger party to welcome a new baby, significant birthdays, and the inevitable funeral. Packed with practical information, Good Luck Life contains an abundance of facts, legends, foods, old-village recipes, and quick planning guides for Chinese New Year, Clear Brightness, Dragon Boat, Mid-Autumn, and many other festivals.

Written with warmth and wit, Good Luck Life is beautifully designed as an easily accessible cultural guide that includes an explanation of the Lunar Calendar, tips on Chinese table etiquette for dining with confidence, and dos and don'ts from wise Auntie Lao, who recounts ancient Chinese beliefs and superstitions. This is your map for celebrating a good luck life.

Review Quotes

"I am so proud to be Chinese-American. Being brought up with Chinese and American values, I am equally proud to be both, but have to say that my values point more towards traditional Chinese: a respect for family and elders, a respect for food and tradition, and a respect for education and hard work. Growing up, life centered around the family and the family centered around the dinner table- if we weren't eating, we were talking about what we were going to eat next. I always knew food was significant but it was only as I got older that I realized there is a lot of folklore attached to Chinese food- I thought it was standard to bring oranges when visiting other families but it turns out that oranges represent wishes of prosperity. Good Luck Life is a great resource to be used as a guide to Chinese traditions and celebrations, offering explanations of the customs and their symbolism- information we should never lose. I've made it my responsibility to teach my children about the Chinese culture with my wife who is Caucasian but who, in fact, speaks better mandarin than me!" - Ming Tsai, Food Network chef and author of Simply Ming
"Good Luck Life is a great resource to be used as a guide to Chinese traditions and celebrations, offering explanations of the customs and their symbolism- information we should never lose. I've made it my responsibility to teach my children about the Chinese culture with my wife who is Caucasian but who, in fact, speaks better mandarin than me!" - Ming Tsai, Food Network chef and author of Simply Ming
"Good Luck Life is a great resource to Chinese traditions and celebrations, offering explanations of the customs and their symbolism." - Ming Tsai, Food Network chef and author of Simply Ming
"Good Luck Life is a cultural treasure chest - it's a wonderful legacy to pass on to future generations." - Martin Yan
"Finally, a useful guidebook that I can refer to for answers on how and why Chinese Americans celebrate certain Chinese holidays (Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, Moon Festival, etc.) and observe special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals. Good Luck Life provides useful nuggets of information on Chinese American celebrations and customs replete with choice quotes, intriguing legends, and homemade recipes." - Judy Yung, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of Unbound Feet: A Social History of Chinese Women in San Francisco.
"Finally, a guidebook I can refer to for answers on how and why Chinese Americans celebrate and observe special occasions." - Judy Yung, Professor of American Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz, and author of Unbound Feet: A Social History of Chinese Women in San Francisco
"Charming...a good buy." - Library Journal