Offerings are prepared by each household, and include a variety of Hokkien sweet and savoury cakes: sticky rice cakes (ti kueh), prosperity cakes (huat kueh), red tortoise buns (ang ku), red-coloured buns (mee ku), rice pudding (bee koh), and miniature bright-pink pagodas made from sugar. Teochew Specialties: Qi Yang Cai, Dao Gua, Sea Cucumber and Rabbit Fish One of most prominent Chinese New Year dishes for the Teochew community would be Qi Yang Cai, a vegetarian dish prepared on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year that contains seven kinds of vegetable, each meant to symbolise an auspicious meaning. Because of the central role it played in saving the community, sugarcane is an essential part of Hokkien New Year. A pair of whole sugarcane stalks – symbolising harmony and cooperation – are tied, one on each side, to the offering table or over the main doorway. Joss paper, known as kim chua in Hokkien, is tied to the top of the stalks. The Pai Thnee Kong celebration is of religious and cultural significance to the Chinese Hokkien communities and is widely celebrated in Penang. On the 8th day of the Chinese New Year, food and prayer items are set up on a makeshift altar at the front entrance of Hokkien homes. The women are busy preparing one or two days before the night prayers. The Hokkien. On Chinese New Year eve, the Hokkien will enjoy “stir-fried thick noodles”, which in Chinese carries the meaning of longevity. In addition, the Hokkien will also consume fried clams on this day. In ancient times, clam shells were used as currency and as such when eaten, represent wealth. After decades of celebrating Hokkien New Year, time to share the story about it. While the red lanterns of Chinese New Year may have dimmed, the festivities are far from over for the Hokkien community. On the ninth day of the Chinese New Year, a new wave of celebration washes over homes and temples, marking Hokkien New Year, or Bai Ti Gong. But When you think of Chinese New Year, the first snack that comes to mind is pineapple tarts. The Hokkien pronunciation of pineapple is ong lai, which sounds like "the coming of fortune." This pastry is often thought to bring prosperity and luck to those who consume them. For the Hokkien community, with roots in Fujian province, the ninth day of Chinese New Year is a big deal as it is also known as the Jade Emperor God’s birthday (called Thnee Kong Seh, short for Thnee Kong Seh Jit in Hokkien). This tradition commemorates the supreme ruler of the heavens in Taoist beliefs. The Year of the Snake 🐍 (蛇年) is fast approaching!In 2025, the Chinese Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29, and the celebration lasts at least 15 days.To help you prepare for celebratory meals, I’ve curated 30 popular recipes for this most important occasion. Ingredients. 16 oz pack Mee Sua 1 Large Red Onion (sliced finely) 4 cloves Garlic (minced finely) 55g Hae Bee (washed and drained, keep the shrimp water) 6-8 rehydrated Dried Shitake Mushrooms (presoaked till soft then squeezed dry and cut into strips. Festival of the Heavenly God or Jade Emperor (9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar) - Hokkien New Year. This festival starts on the early morning of the 9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar (after midnight of the 8th day). 5. Pork knuckle with dried oysters for prosperous business. Chinese-style braised pork knuckle is a popular Chinese New Year dish in Cantonese. The pork knuckle is cooked with black moss called fat choy, dried mushrooms, and dried oysters. Teochew Specialties: Qi Yang Cai, Dao Gua, Sea Cucumber and Rabbit Fish One of most prominent Chinese New Year dishes for the Teochew community would be Qi Yang Cai, a vegetarian dish prepared on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year that contains seven kinds of vegetable, each meant to symbolise an auspicious meaning. Celebrate the Year of the Snake with our exquisite Chinese New Year offerings—featuring prosperity set menus, signature Yu Sheng, and festive treats, crafted to bring joy and abundance. Available from 24 December 2024 to 16 February 2025. Basically, Hokkien New Year is celebrated on the 9th day of Chinese New Year. (If you remember, I previously mentioned that Chinese New Year is a fifteen day celebration). For us Hokkiens, it is celebrated with more grandeur compared to the 1st day. Festival of the Heavenly God or Jade Emperor (9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar) - Hokkien New Year. This festival starts on the early morning of the 9th day of the Chinese lunar calendar (after midnight of the 8th day). The ninth day of the first lunar calendar is especially significant to the Hokkien people (subgroup of Chinese). Some traditionalists would even venture as far as to say that it is much more important than the Chinese New Year day itself because the entire Hokkien clan was spared from massacre. In the latter years, as my family got a bit richer, abalone, flower shitake mushrooms, pacific clams and the "treasure" items started to appear. Reflections | From food to grieving: how Chinese traditions and customs are tweaked to suit the times and why we eat Ferrero Rocher at Lunar New Year With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, 100g Chinese cabbage, cut into 5cm pieces; 20g dried goji berries; 15g ginger, thinly julienned, plus extra for garnish; 1 scallion, thinly julienned; A Beng Hiang Chinese New Year 2025 Menu Celebrate the Year of the Snake with our exquisite Chinese New Year offerings—featuring prosperity set menus, signature Yu Sheng, and festive treats, crafted to bring joy and abundance from 24 December 2024 to 16 February 2025.
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