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The auspicious symbolism of these traditional Chinese New Year foods is based on their pronunciations or appearance. Not only do the dishes themselves matter, but also the preparation, and ways of serving and eating mean a lot. The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao. We've rounded up 12 A full serving of delicious Chinese food, with a sizzling side of symbolism By Lindsay Parrill Published February 15, 2023 Save and one of our favorite Chinese New Year food traditions. Fish During Chinese New Year, families indulge in the Tray of Togetherness, sample Nian Gao for good luck, and savour an eight-course feast, each steeped in tradition and symbolic meaning. Tray of Togetherness. The Tray of Togetherness is a traditional Chinese New Year item featuring an assortment of symbolic treats. It typically contains eight The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China: it lasts up to two weeks. Food plays a big part in this family gathering holiday period. The festive and different kinds of food people eat during this special period are meant to bring families together and symbolize a great new year. “Ji” sounds like “lucky” in Chinese, making this dish a symbol of good fortune. A whole chicken signifies family unity and completeness, promising a harmonious year together. Whole Steamed Chicken, a centrepiece in Lunar New Year celebrations, goes beyond culinary delight to embody profound symbols of good fortune and family unity. The next stop on our little Chinese New Year food and meaning tour is fish. In Chinese, the word for ‘fish’ (yú) is in the word for ‘surplus’ (shèngyú) . This has led to fish symbolizing abundance and hope for surplus in Chinese culture and makes fish dishes the perfect candidates for Spring Festival celebrations. Food Symbolism ___ Food Symbolism during Chinese New Year Celebrations Chinese like playing with words and symbols. Often homonyms (words that share the same pronunciation but have different meanings) are gladly used. Names of dishes and/or their ingrediets which will be served sound similar to words and phrases refering to wishes expressed Dumplings are a staple of Chinese food culture and are an iconic New Year's food that represents wealth. Their appearance resembles silver ingots, an ancient currency used in China. Folk knowledge suggests the more dumplings you can eat during the New Year celebration, the more prosperous you will be in the coming year. In Lunar New Year traditions, revelers believe tangerines, oranges and pomelos bring good fortune. Their Mandarin names echo words with symbolic meanings: "jú" for oranges suggests "good luck" or Chinese people eat foods with the symbols of good luck, prosperity, and happiness during the Chinese New Year. The lunar New Year 2025 is coming, try these traditional dishes with auspicious meanings and have good fortune in the new year. 1. Fish - Fortune and Abundance Given the importance of food in Chinese culture, it is not surprising that certain dishes play a major role in Chinese New Year celebrations. Foods that are considered lucky or offer good fortune are part of the menu, as are ingredients whose names in Chinese sound similar to other positive words. Have you ever wondered why certain dishes take centre stage during Chinese New Year celebrations? It’s not just about the tantalising flavours—it’s about tradition, symbolism, and a sprinkle of superstition. For over 2,000 years, Chinese culture has infused food with deeper meaning, believing TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chinese New Year (CNY) is a time of joy, family reunions, and traditions. One of the most exciting aspects of the celebration is the abundance of festive snacks. But, these munchies are more than just tasty, seasonal treats; each of them carries a symbolism for luck, prosperity Green is a color associated with wealth and currency, so leafy greens like lettuce, spinach and bok choy are often served as a Chinese New Year food. During Chinese New Year, these foods are often included in stir fry, soups, spring rolls and salads. The hope is some of that promised prosperity will manifest in your new year. 6. Dumplings Traditional Chinese New Year dishes include lobster and chicken to represent the dragon and phoenix (good marriage). Photo: flickr/megahammond For Chinese New Year, families celebrate for fifteen days to bring good luck, long life, and prosperity into their homes. One of the most important and best parts of the celebration is the food. The The Role of Food in Chinese New Year Celebrations. Food plays a central role in Chinese New Year festivities, with traditional dishes carrying deep symbolic meanings. These culinary traditions bring families together and are believed to bring good fortune for the coming year. Traditional Dishes and Their Symbolism. Chinese New Year meals And of course, a lot of care and thought is put into the menu for the most important holiday of the year. As with Chinese New Year activities and decorations, the dishes are created to give blessings for the next year. Both the names and looks are symbols of wishes for prosperity, happiness and auspiciousness. Fish is a must on the table of every chinese family during CNY. Usually a whole fish is served. Fish symbolises abundance or surplus for the year because “fish” and “surplus” are both pronounced yu, and the unfinished fish is thus a good portent referring to the expression "nian nian you yu" or surplus for every year. The Origin of Food Symbolism in China. Dating back at least 2,000 years, the symbolism of foods in China comes from superstitions or traditional beliefs in eating to invoke/celebrate blessing. A meaning or "power" is associated with foods through food name pronunciation, food shape, colors, food history/legends, and so on. 5. 年花 (New Year Flowers) Symbolism: New Year flowers such as 桃花 (peach blossoms), 富贵竹 (lucky bamboo), and 桔子树 (tangerine trees) represent growth, prosperity, and good luck. Each flower carries its own specific auspicious meaning. Application: These flowers are used to decorate homes and offices during Chinese New Year. For
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