Workers loading pots of tangerines—a type of mandarins—from a truck in a flower farm for Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, Jan. 22, 2003. In southern China, oranges are given during Lunar New The Symbolism of Mandarin Orange in Chinese New Year . Similar to red envelopes, the inclusion of mandarin orange in Chinese New Year is due to its historical significance. As the shape of a small citrus fruit resembles the sun, the mandarin orange in Chinese New Year is a manifestation of the hopeful wish to gain abundance and happiness. Also regarded as chap goh mei, the last night (15th day) of Chinese New Year is also regarded as Chinese Valentine’s Day8. This is where courtship and the possibility of romance hangs in the air. Mandarin oranges are sweet (酸酸甜甜; suān suān tián tián) — with a tinge of sourness— just like love (的爱情; dí ài qíng)! Lucky Food for New Year 2022: From Curd to Oranges, Food To Bring Good Luck and Have Happy New Year. Why do Chinese like mandarins? They symbolise fortune This fundamental Chinese philosophical concept underpins the meaning behind the physical appearance of mandarin oranges in Chinese culture. Just like plenty of other proverbial nuances denoted from the Chinese culture, the inclusion of oranges as a new year staple comes down to simple wordplay Adding some historical context to the origin, mandarin oranges were cultivated as an antiquity in China, highly valued and often presented as a tribute to visitors of the imperial court. The Chinese love citrus fruits as much as they love word play, puns and especially homonyms—words that sound like other words. Because the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like "luck" and the word for orange sounds like "wealth," the fruits are prized both for table display and gift giving during Chinese New Year. As Hong Kong strides into a new lunar year, the city fills up with mandarin oranges. Smaller and less round than other varieties of oranges, Citrus reticulata are considered particularly auspicious for Chinese New Year. As they mark the beginning of a new lunar year, families and shopkeepers across Hong Kong buy pots of these oranges for Throwing oranges and bathing in coriander: Asia's unique Lunar New Year traditions By Raffa Athallah Posted 10m ago 10 minutes ago Tue 28 Jan 2025 at 11:12pm , updated 7m ago 7 minutes ago Tue 28 SINGAPORE - A hallmark of Chinese New Year, the sight of mandarin oranges each year signals that the festive season has officially begun. In Cantonese, to gift mandarin oranges is to “song gam Hence, to exchange mandarin oranges with family and loved ones signifies a form of respect between both parties. Besides the familiar Lukan and Ponkan mandarins, they are other uncommon varieties available during the Chinese New Year festive season only. Here’s how to differentiate the popular mandarin orange varieties. 6 most popular types What should you avoid doing on Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year Taboos and Superstitions: 18 Things You Should Not Do. Avoid taking medicine. Don’t sweep or take out garbage. No unlucky words. Don’t eat porridge and meat for breakfast. Avoid washing hair and getting a haircut. Don’t wash clothes. Needlework should not be done. Oranges and Other Citrus Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year gifts because they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” closely resemble the words for “luck” and “wealth.” The gold color of these fruits also symbolizes prosperity. Why do we give oranges on Chinese Read More »Do You Give A traditional gift during Chinese New Year is the exchanging of a pair of mandarin oranges and the giving of red packet containing an even amount of money. Unmarried adults and children receive these red packets from married family members and friends in exchange of wishing them good health and fortune . The Many Symbols of the Chinese New Year. Chinese culture is rich with symbolism. This is especially so during the Chinese New Year celebration, which is associated with many symbols and customs. Certain colors, fruits, flowers, animals, actions, and sounds are examples of things that have special symbolic meaning. A traditional gift during Chinese New Year is the exchanging of a pair of mandarin oranges and the giving of red packet containing an even amount of money. Unmarried adults and children receive Taking naps, especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year, represents laziness. In Chinese culture, taking naps on the first day of the new year will affect your luck and career for the rest of the year. 9. Avoid breaking things in your home how many oranges to give for Chinese new year? Oranges are a popular fruit among adults and children. They have a thin skin, thick flesh, and a sweet taste with lots of juice. Oranges are rich in vitamin C, carotene, and pectin, which aid digestion and are particularly suitable for relieving thirst during the Spring Festival. Exchanging Mandarin oranges is a must during Chinese New Year. Originating from Southern China, the tradition of giving mandarin oranges is known as “song gam” in Cantonese. Why do we give 2 oranges during Chinese New Year? A traditional gift during Chinese New Year is the exchanging of a pair of mandarin oranges and the giving of red Celebrate the Lunar New Year with these eight traditional Chinese dishes, from Tikoy to tangerines, symbolizing prosperity, longevity, and good fortune. Discover the cultural significance behind each delicacy and how they enhance the festive spirit. Cherries represent success (© Peppersmint via Canva) In preparation for the Lunar New Year celebrations, remember to pick up a batch of cherries to top off your holiday.. Similar to pomelos, cherries ripen just in time for Chinese New Year and have become an in-demand fruit during this particular time when large shipments are imported from countries, like Chile and Austra
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