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 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 Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner is a very traditional event that stands for the value of family, the aspiration for a happy future, and the safeguarding of cultural heritage. Gathering around tables loaded with symbolic foods, families indulge in the tastes of a rich culinary history while also engaging in rituals that cross generations and Chinese New Year Appetizers. These appetizers can be served just prior to dinner, for lunch, or really anytime during the two-week-long Chinese New Year festivities, between New Year’s Eve and the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of the celebration. Yes, Chinese New Year is the best time to savor traditional dishes, candies, and pastries without guilt. The New Year’s Eve dinner, also known as the “reunion dinner” or 团年饭, is a feast that brings families together, exchanging best wishes for each other. And that’s why Chinese New Year recipes are more than the flavors. Nian gao, also known as “rice cake” or “New Year cake” in English, are a must for Chinese New Year. In ancient times, nian gao were used only as offerings to the ancestors and gods. Gradually, they became a traditional dish during the Spring Festival. Now they are available every day of the year, but are still a special treat for the 2. Ginger Scallion Salmon . Usually we’d insist on making two whole fish on Chinese New Year’s eve, one to enjoy in the old year, and one to enjoy the next day in the new yearbut this salmon is so so simple and tastes just like the steamed whole fish with ginger cilantro, and scallion over the top. Step 1: Add water into the flour to make a dough. Knead the dough and then cover it for later use. Step 2: Prepare the fillings by mixing the ground pork with chopped celery, ginger and green onion and add other seasonings. The BIG dinner is usually hosted on Chinese New Year eve, “除夕” ( chúxì). The dinner is called “團圓飯” (Reunion Meal, tuányuánfàn) or “年夜飯” (New Years Eve Dinner, niányèfàn). Families usually spend as long as they can around the dinner table, the feast can be 4 hours long or more! Mom Shopping for ingredients Celebrating the Spring Festival dinner, or reunion dinner (年夜饭 Nian Ye Fan), is very important to Chinese people, and the whole family must get gather to enjoy a sumptuous meal . Chicken, duck, fish and pork are necessary. 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.) Marinate the Beef: In a bowl, combine the beef slices with soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and Shaoxing wine. Let it marinate for 20 minutes. Prepare the Noodles: Cook the Chinese wheat noodles according to the package instructions. When: some families have dinner at 2 or 3 pm, and some have dinner at about 6 pm; New Year's Eve dinner, also known as New Year's dinner, reunion dinner, etc., especially refers to the family dinner at the end of New Year's Eve. Chinese New Year celebrations span 16 days, from New Year’s Eve to the Lantern Festival. Here are the key dates to mark in 2025: Chinese New Year’s Eve: February 9th, 2025; Chinese New Year’s Day: February 10th, 2025; Lantern Festival: February 24th, 2025 During Chinese New Year, people have a long list of things to do. From one week preceding the festival to the 15th day after, many Chinese New Year customs are widely observed for thousands of years. The family reunion dinner, eating dumplings, and setting off firework are the must-dos that you might know. What else interesting do the Chinese do? Chinese New Year Snacks. Traditional snacks for Chinese New Year celebrations include: Chinese nut cookies, such as peanut cookies or Cantonese walnut cookies. (If deep frying your own nuts, the peanut cookies will take you over half a day to roast and skin- I made 1500 peanut cookies last year and have baked another 40 bottles in the last 2 weeks to come up with The Ultimate Chinese Peanut 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. New Year’s Eve Dinner. On the New Year’s Eve dinner table, generally there are chicken (meaning good luck), fish (meaning surplus every year), oyster sauce (meaning good market), hair weeds (meaning rich), dried beancurd sticks (meaning abundance), lotus root (meaning smart), lettuce (meaning money-making), sausage (meaning permanence) for Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) is a time for families to be together. Chinese New Year's Eve is the most important time. Wherever they are, people are expected to be home to celebrate the festival with their families. The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is called 'reunion dinner'. Big families of several generations sit around round tables and The Chinese New Year’s Eve meal is the most important dinner of the year. Typically, families gather at a designated relative’s house for dinner, but these days, many families often celebrate
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.