Planning to prepare something special for the Chinese New Year?
Here is a helpful guide on what food to prepare to usher good luck and prosperity for the coming year.
Each of the dishes placed on the table has a symbolic meaning for the Chinese. Even the way the food is pronounced and appearance counts. Foods with homonyms or having the same sound with wishes are being used, while others hold their own meaning.
Also, the preparation and the way it is served and eaten means a lot to them.
The celebration of Chinese New Year is never complete without fish, dumplings, spring rolls, and niangao among others.
Below are some essential and traditional Chinese New Year dishes to grace the table and their symbolism:
Good Fortune Fruit (Fullness and wealth)
Fruits that are round and golden in color like tangerines, oranges, and pomeloes symbolize fullness and wealth. These fruits are related to fortune because of the way it is pronounced and written in Chinese. Eating and displaying tangerines and oranges is believed to bring good luck and fortune while eating pomeloes is said to bring prosperity. These fruits are served at the end of the meal.The more that you eat, the more wealth it will bring.
Whole Fish (Prosperity)
Steamed fish is a must on Chinese New Year. Fish is associated with a surplus. It means that the fish should be the last food left for the next year. In some parts of China, the head and the tail of the fish should be left until the beginning of the year. For the Chinese, it is always good to have a surplus at the end of the year because this will allow them to earn some more in the coming year.
Chinese Dumplings (Wealth)
This traditional dish is considered a classic lucky food for the new year. It is a tradition during new year’s eve to eat dumplings with cabbage and radish. According to legends, the more dumplings you eat during the New Year’s celebration would translate to more money earned during the year.
Noodles (Happiness and Longevity)
Aside from birthdays and some festivals, noodles are also essential in Chinese New Year. It expresses the wish for longevity. It also symbolized it all goes smooth and joy in the coming year.
Glutinous Rice Cake (higher income or position)
Glutinous or sweet rice cake is one of the most popular desserts served during new year’s eve. For the Chinese, glutinous rice cake means “getting higher year-on- by year”. It is their belief that the higher the position that you occupy and the more prosperous your business becomes is a general improvement in life.
Sweet Rice Balls (Family Togetherness)
Sweet rice balls are commonly served during the end of Chinese New Year, also called the Festival Lantern. The pronunciation and round shape of tangyuan (sweet rice balls) are associated with family reunions and togetherness.
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