Michaela Wang

Broomed, Blessed, and Braised Michaela Wang

To broom is to respect superstition; to bless is to worship the ancestors; to braise is to release the aroma of savory herbs and draw the whole family together. Crafted by a young Asian-American who dips her dumplings in ketchup, this book takes a deep look at Chinese holiday customs, revealing the tension between their often patriarchal or imperial origins and the joyful populism of their actual celebration. The energetic narration will take you from the quiet page to the noisy bustle of the dragon boat race. Chapter by chapter, the volume describes the customs, legends, and dishes of each of the eight traditional Chinese holidays-the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival, the Qingming Festival, the Dragonboat Festival, the Qixi Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Double-Ninth Festival, and the Winter Solstice-exploring the ways in which they have evolved over time and diverged across geographical regions. The holidays also serve as a lens through which to study broader Chinese culture, the arc of China's historical periods, and the culture's most ingrained societal values.