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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 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. 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. 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 Whole Steamed Chicken, a centrepiece in Lunar New Year celebrations, goes beyond culinary delight to embody profound symbols of good fortune and family unity. Choosing a whole chicken represents completeness and abundance, echoing the Chinese word “Ji,” which sounds like “lucky.” 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. Another food you definitely want to put on your Chinese New Year food list for this Year of the Tiger is tang yuan — black sesame filled sweet rice balls that are typically served in a sweet soup. These little balls of joy symbolize a happy family reunion because their name sounds like a Chinese phrase for ‘reunion’ and ‘togetherness’. The foods served to celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year hold symbolic meanings such as luck, prosperity, happiness and togetherness. While there is a long list of foods that are part of the celebration, you can discover how to welcome good fortune into your life with this roundup of eight commonly eaten Chinese Lunar New Year foods. 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 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 The 16-day festival season is celebrated with lots of traditional Chinese New Year foods that are prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways. Below, you’ll find 15 timeless favorites (and a few simpler-yet-similar alternatives) that are just right for the occasion. It started last Thursday, February 19 (Year of the Sheep). Food is a very important part of celebrating Chinese New Year and here is everything you need to know, including the symbolic meanings of traditional Chinese New Year foods and where to get them in Chinatown. Chinese New Year Banquet: 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 Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year marks the start of a new year according to the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar. In 2025, the celebrations begin on Wednesday, January 29th. Many of the dishes enjoyed during this time are deeply symbolic, representing good luck, happiness, prosperity, and more. Let’s explore some of these foods. During this time, you will see Chinese New Year symbols in everything from the decorations displayed to the lucky foods eaten during this time. Also called the Spring Festival, this celebration welcomes in the new year. The symbols of Chinese New Year help to encourage prosperity, luck, abundance and good fortune for the coming year. 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 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. 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 The food that is served during the Chinese New Year is rich in significance, tradition, symbolism, and folklore. These are the days when families come together and revel in each other’s company, and as with all such occasions, these gatherings come with rich aromas of traditional dishes wafting from the kitchen.
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