What Did You Eat on Chinese New Year?

Chinese Culture is all about symbol and the meanings behind those symbols, including the food consumed.  During New Year celebrations, many kind of food served to boost some luck through all the two weeks of Chinese New Year celebration.

Oranges for free. Oranges and tangerines were often given for free during Chinese New Year, since their spelling sounds like wealth and luck.

Let the Noodle stay long. An old superstition said, cutting the noodle might bring you bad luck, because noodles represent long life.

Fish for prosperity. The word “Yu” which means fish, which sounds like the words for wish and abundance. Usually a whole fish is served by the end of dinner, with head and tail still attached, to symbolize a wish for abundance in the beginning, ending and through all of the coming year. 

Eggs, or seeds symbolize fertility. Watermelon seeds, lotus seeds, pomegranate, etc., symbolize having a lot of children.

Sweet, layered and round Sticky Rice Cake. Symbolize sweet, and abundance life to come, within the whole family.

Fresh fruits for a fresh start. Fresh fruits symbolize life and a new beginning.

Duck represent fidelity. Along with red colored dishes which represent the color of happiness.  

Have some Pomelos. The Chinese word for Pomelo spells like the word for “to have”, which signifies abundance, prosperity, or fertility.

No fresh tofu please. The white color symbolizes death and misfortune, so dried tofu would most likely serve for fulfillment of wealth and happiness.

Chicken in a whole. Chicken symbolize happiness and marriage, while a whole chicken served on Chinese New Year celebration symbolizes family togetherness.

Lettuce to rise fortune. The Cantonese spelling for Lettuce sounds like the words which means “rising fortune”.  That’s why some people might serve lettuce to wrap other food for luck.

Spring Rolls, or Egg Rolls for wealth. Spring Rolls shaped like gold bars, while you’re eating them.

Dried apricot symbolizes wealth. For its’ golden likes color.

A coin in a dumpling. The person who finds it will be showered with good fortune and wealth!

Got some experience and knowledge to share? You can write it and get paid for it by signing up here.