Celebrate the Chinese New Year at Home the Panda Express Way

— -- In America, we may celebrate the New Year with a party, midnight kiss and flimsy resolutions, but that's nothing compared to how the Chinese welcome the beginning of the lunar calendar.

Celebrated about a month or so after the solar New Year (this year on Feb. 19 for the Year of the Sheep), the Chinese New Year is extremely important to the Chinese culture (as well as other cultures in the Far East), with people taking time out to eat lucky foods, spend time with family and friends, clean the house, give gifts in red envelopes, set off fireworks, decorate to the nines and more.

With Panda Express' Chinese heritage -- founders Peggy and Andrew Cherng started the company more than 40 years ago and still own and operate it -- the Chinese chain restaurant has always celebrated the New Year in a big way, and this year is no different. The 1,700 locations worldwide will feature firecracker chicken, an entrée symbolic of the holiday.

“Firecrackers are associated with Chinese New Year because the loud noises they make are believed to scare away any evil spirits that could bring bad luck in the coming year,” Peggy Cherng told ABC News. “We are also offering guests a traditional red envelope with a special gift inside.”

Red envelopes are a way of passing along good wishes and good fortune, according to Cherng, and families often give each other gifts in red packages. Employees will receive gifts that way, and the red envelope for guests will include a free firecracker chicken breast entrée and Pepsi on an additional visit before March 10.

Foods take on special meaning around the Chinese New Year. Egg rolls signify wealth because they resemble gold bars. The Chinese word for fish -- yu -- sounds like the word for abundance, so an excess of fish is eaten to symbolize prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. (It’s important, though, not to eat all the fish so there is extra prosperity for the year to follow.) Tangerines and oranges represent good luck and wealth. Long, uncut noodles symbolize a long life. Mixed vegetables represent family togetherness and harmony.

“For those new to the holiday, a festive meal with family and friends with some of the symbolic dishes is the best way to celebrate at home,” Cherng said. “Take some time to think about all the ways in which you are fortunate, because good fortune can take on so many forms, some more obvious and some less so.”

To make your own Chinese New Year feast at home, try the recipes below from Panda Express.

Egg Roll: Click here for the recipe.
Firecracker Chicken Breast: Click here for the recipe.
Chow Mein: Click here for the recipe.