With a history of more than 1,800 years, dumpling (饺子 Jiǎozi /jyaoww-dzrr/) is a classic lucky food for Lunar New Year, and a traditional dish eaten on Chinese New Year's Eve, widely popular in China, especially in North China. Chinese New Year (also known as Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival) is the most celebrated holiday in Chinese culture around the world. It is the celebration that rings in the start of a new year Also called Spring Festival in most of mainland China, Lunar New Year begins on the night of the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar, which is a bit shorter than the 365-day solar year. The 16-day festival season is celebrated with lots of traditional Chinese New Year foods that are prepared, served and eaten in symbolic ways. 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. 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) 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 Year foods that are sure to grace tables across the globe. 1. Here are 22 Chinese New Year traditional foods for you to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year in 2024. Table of Contents. Dumplings (饺子 / 餃子) Traditional Chinese New Year Food 9. Buddha’s Delight Buddha’s Delight stir fry (via Canva) This vegetarian Chinese New Year food is usually served on the first day of the Chinese New Year and represents the Buddha's vegetarian meat-free diet that helps him to achieve the self-purification necessary for spiritual practice. Ingredients Ultimately, Chinese New Year is a vibrant celebration steeped in tradition, and food plays a central role in these festivities. Each dish carries special wishes for the year ahead. For a taste of cultural exploration beyond Chinese New Year food, check out our website’s guide to traditional Egyptian food. 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 Chinese New Year Side Dishes. Even some vegetable dishes are iconic Chinese New Year foods. Buddha’s Delight, consisting of at least 8 ingredients, is often eaten the morning of Chinese New Year after a ceremonial offering of food to honor family ancestors. 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. Sticky rice balls—or tang yuan—are a traditional Chinese new year food that can be made savory or sweet. Go the savory route with ground pork or Chinese greens, or make sweet rice balls by 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 Serious Eats / Fiona Reilly. In winter, a steaming cauldron of boiling water sits on every stove, ready to cook jiaozi at a moment's notice. Today, making dumplings together at Chinese New Year is a tradition shared by almost every Chinese family around the world, but the practice has its roots in China's north, where the wheat used in the tender dumpling skins (jiaozi pi) was once a more Nian Gao. Many lucky Chinese New Year foods involve wordplay and puns. In the case of Nian Gao, the name alludes to things increasing/getting higher in the year, so think higher salary, higher income, higher height (for kids) and positive increases all around. Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is a joyous celebration embraced by many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and others. The dumpling is a traditional lucky food in China and enjoys worldwide popularity now. With a history of 1,800 years, it is not only a staple food of people in Northern China, but also an essential dish in various festivals, especially in Chinese New Year. 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. 21 Recipes to Celebrate Chinese New Year. Planning a feast for Chinese New Year? From festive fish and dumplings to sticky rice pudding and peanut cookies, this symbolic selection of delicious recipes and traditional foods will help you plan the menu.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | |
![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() |