Lucky food is served during the 16-day festival season, especially on Chinese New Year dinner on New Year's Eve, which is believed to bring good luck for the coming year. 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 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.) 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 The act of sharing and enjoying these delectable pockets during the New Year celebrations becomes a communal tradition that extends beyond culinary delight, fostering a sense of togetherness and the belief in the prosperous journey that lies ahead. 20. Niangao (Chinese New Year Cake) 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 The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of joy, family reunions, and, of course, indulging in delicious food. Each dish served during this festive period carries a special meaning, symbolizing prosperity, luck, and togetherness. As we approach the 2025 celebrations, let’s explore the top 10 traditional Chinese New 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. Chinese New Year is steeped in traditions and symbolism, with various foods believed to bring good luck and fortune for the year ahead. Fish is a must-have dish, symbolising surplus and abundance. Dumplings (jiaozi) are widely consumed during this time, representing prosperity and wealth due to their resemblance to ancient Chinese money. Food is one of the things that the Chinese take the most pride in. 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. Across the globe, many cultures have devised ways to usher in the new year, usually with much pomp, joy, and enthusiasm. In China, the festivities last for 15 days, a week of which is a public Chef and cookbook author Sohui Kim calls these dumplings a hybrid of Japanese gyoza, Korean mandoo, and Chinese jiaozi. Use thin wrappers to contain a juicy filling of pork, chives, and tofu, then Pork Belly – Be it braised or steamed, these jiggly and collagen-rich pork belly somehow made it into the list of the most common food served during Chinese New Year. There seems to be not much of a significance behind this except pork belly is one of the premium cut of the meat and it usually takes a long time to prepare a pork belly dish. In many parts of China, tang yuan are eaten at the start of the Lantern Festival, marking the end of the Chinese New Year period, but in Shanghai and the south, they're eaten throughout the New Year festivities. The glutinous rice balls might be plain and the size of a small marble, or larger and stuffed with sweet black sesame paste. 3. Sweet Rice Balls for Unity. Yuanxiao or tangyuan, served in syrup, are sweet glutinous rice balls that hold a special significance during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the Lunar Image Credit: Oddle Feeds 1. Whole Chicken. In Chinese tradition, serving a whole chicken during the Chinese New Year reunion dinner symbolise family unity, prosperity, and good fortune, with the word “鸡” sounding like “吉,” means “luck” wishing for blessings within the family. Wednesday, January 29th, will kick off the start of the Year of the Snake with celebrations of fireworks, family, and feasts all across the world. 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 Called Cuan He in Mandarin, a Tray of Togetherness is a snack box typically divided into 6 or 8 compartments, each filled with a type of dried nuts, cherry/berry fruits, candies and cookies; especially to serve your visiting loved ones, and of course, popular with kids. Food plays a huge role in celebrating the Lunar New Year. Chinese Lunar New Year dishes aren’t just delicious—they’re packed with meaning. Each dish represents something special, like wealth, health, or happiness. When you share these meals with loved ones, you’re not just eating.
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