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 The Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China: it lasts up to two weeks and is the only time of the year when China shuts down. Unlike Western countries, the Chinese New Year generally falls between January 21st and February 20th in the Gregorian calendar, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Most Americans consider January 1 the start of the new year, but many Asians and Asian-Americans don’t. Instead, they follow Lunar New Year, also referred to as Chinese New Year in the U.S., which begins on January 29, 2025. (That’s the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac, BTW.) Eating any version of this Chinese New Year food is meant to usher in improvements in fortune, income, health, business, knowledge or even just height for the little ones. insjoy/Getty Images Be particular about the vegetables you eat over Chinese New Year; lettuce (saang coi, 生菜) is particularly auspicious as its pronunciation in Chinese suggests ‘creating wealth’ (sanng coi, 生財). Enjoy it however you prefer. Eating sweet rice balls during the Chinese New Year is a cherished tradition. Their name, tangyuan, sounds similar to the word “tuan yuan,” which means reunion in Chinese. This homophonic connection highlights the importance of familial bonds and the hope for a harmonious year ahead. Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival) is the most celebrated holiday in Chinese culture around the world. Because of this, eating fish for the Lunar New Year For Chinese New Year, people like to eat long noodles. They are also called 长寿面 (cháng shòu miàn), which means “longevity noodles.” You aren’t allowed to cut them and should try not to chew either. The longer the noodle, the longer your life will be. This calls for a lot of slurping. What To Eat for Chinese New Year 2025. Chinese new year is a time for dumplings, egg rolls, spring rolls and plenty of noodles, but many other Chinese delicacies are popularly consumed throughout Eating longevity noodles on one’s birthday or on the Chinese New Year is a tradition dating back over 1,000 years ago. Because they are long and continuous noodles represent long life. Eating longevity noodles symbolizes that everything is going to be smooth in the new year. 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 Pre-Chinese New Year Preparations and Activities (Jan. 7–Feb. 12, 2025) Jan. 7, 2025: Laba Festival. Some Chinese start to celebrate and prepare for Chinese New Year as early as day 8 of the 12 th month of the lunar calendar. Dumplings (饺子 / 餃子) The custom of eating dumplings during the Spring Festival in China has a long history. Eating dumplings on the first day of the lunar new year is a custom that almost every family in northern China will follow. Niangao (Chinese New Year Cake) Niangao, the sticky rice cake , emerges as a culinary metaphor-laden with auspicious meanings. Associated with growth, progress, and the anticipation of a higher income, its name echoes the desire for “increasing prosperity year after year.” what not to eat on chinese new year typical chinese new year dishes. The Date of Chinese New Year is Fixed: New Year’s on January 1st, right? Not so fast. Chinese New Year is actually kind of a moving target, thanks to the lunar calendar. It can fall anywhere between late January and late February. Christine Han. Serve this spicy pork-and-vegetable lo mein for Chinese New Year or for dinner anytime. While some cooks like to cut the noodles into 6- to 8-inch lengths to make them easier to combine with other ingredients, for the New Year the noodles can never be cut because that symbolizes bad luck. These easy Chinese New Year desserts are perfect to usher in the new year, but they’re delightful all year round. Chinese New Year is a significant holiday in Chinese culture, where families gather and share the most important meal of the year – tuán niánfàn or New Year’s Eve dinner. The Chinese New Year dinner also referred to as the "Reunion Dinner", called tuan nien fan or nian ye fan in Chinese, is perhaps the most loved aspect of the Spring Festival. It takes place on Chinese New Year's Eve (January 28th in 2025). The Significance of the Reunion Dinner The Lunar New Year in 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year. Chinese New Year Side Dishes. Even some vegetable dishes are iconic Chinese New Year foods. Buddha’s Delight, consisting of at least 8 ingredients, is often eaten the morning of Chinese New Year after a ceremonial offering of food to honor family ancestors.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |