Gallery
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
The Cultural Importance of Serving Whole Fish during Chinese New Year. Symbol of abundance and prosperity: The Chinese believe that serving whole fish during Chinese New Year symbolizes abundance and prosperity in the coming year. The word for “fish” in Mandarin sounds like the word for “abundance,” and the phrase “may there be Chinese New Year celebrations revolve around food and family Fish holds special symbolic importance and is integral to the traditional reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve The pronunciation of fish in Mandarin and Cantonese sounds like the words for “surplus” or “abundance”, so eating fish represents hopes for prosperity in the coming year. Eating two fish, one on New Year's Eve and one on New Year's Day, (if written in a certain way) sounds like a wish for a surplus year-after-year. If only one catfish is eaten , eating the upper part of the fish on New Year's Eve and the remainder on the first day of the new year can be spoken with the same homophonic meaning. For the Chinese Lunar New Year, many people are eating foods that look like money, sound like good fortune and represent wholeness. Why it matters: "The Chinese believe that you have to have a But Lunar New Year boils down to this one thing. Red packets, eating fish, making dumplings, yee sang – Adam Liaw on how every Lunar New Year tradition relates to one crucial purpose – getting Culinary traditions during Chinese New Year often highlight fish as a centerpiece, showcasing its significance in symbolizing abundance. Serving a whole fish on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day embodies wishes for prosperity and wealth, aligning with the phrase "nian nian you yu." Here are some key culinary customs surrounding fish: 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 Overall, fish plays a crucial role in Chinese New Year celebrations, symbolizing abundance, wealth, good fortune, perseverance, and success. Preparing and serving fish during the festivities became a tradition that dates back centuries ago and continues to be cherished and practiced by many Chinese families worldwide. Lunar New Year is on the horizon, and you note that it is the biggest feast, the most family-filled, the loudest, the most festive, and the most delicious. This year, it occurs on January 29 and kicks off the Year of the Snake. Tell us a bit about how you prepare for the Lunar New Year in the weeks and days leading up to it. In Chinese, the word for fish (yú) sounds like ‘surplus’ or ‘abundance.’ Serving a whole fish at the reunion dinner symbolises prosperity and the hope for a year of overflowing wealth. It’s customary to leave some of the fish uneaten to ensure ‘surplus’ carries into the next year. Dumplings (饺子, Jiǎozi) Dumplings Caitriana Nicholson/Flickr. Resembling coin purses, dumplings are said to bring wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. Traditionally filled with a mixture of meat, tofu, egg, and/or As you can see, fish and surplus have different Chinese characters, but phonetically, they sound the same, lending thoughts and hopes for surplus for the new year when consuming fish. A white fish is bought live from a tank (if possible), marinated with a light salt rub and shaoxing wine, and then steamed whole with ginger and scallions. It is believed that serving fish during Chinese New Year will bring good luck and prosperity for the upcoming year. Traditional Dish: Eating fish during Chinese New Year is a tradition that dates back centuries. It is said that fish was served during the Zhou Dynasty (1046 – 256 BCE). Eating fish eye is believed to bring good luck, and it is often served during Chinese New Year celebrations and other auspicious occasions. Prosperity: Fish is a symbol of abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture. Eating fish during Chinese New Year is a tradition that is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and is associated with several auspicious meanings. The word for fish in Chinese, "yu" (鱼), sounds similar to the word for surplus or abundance (余), symbolizing prosperity and wealth. Therefore, having fish during the New Year's Every year, people around the globe celebrate Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China or, more commonly, the Chinese New Year (via Cnet).Legend has it that at the beginning of each year, a monster by the name of Nian, the Chinese word for "year," would come and eat villagers. 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.) All over China, people have the tradition of having a lucky plate of fish on Spring Festival. In the south of China, the plate of fish is the last dish on the table at a Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner. People place it on the table, but don’t eat it. They keep the plate of fish through the New Year in hopes that it will bring them wealth. Usually, it takes eight minutes for a smaller fish or 12 minutes for a bigger fish. According to Chef Leung Fai Hung, a fish weighing 1 catty (0.6kg) takes six minutes to steam, while a fish twice the size will take double the time. The traditions of eating fish and dumplings during Chinese New Year have transcended time and borders, evolving in step with a changing world. In the contemporary Chinese New Year celebrations, these customs have not only endured but also adapted to accommodate shifting dietary preferences, globalization, and the demands of modern life.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |