As abalone is expensive, eating abalone during Chinese New Year is believed to bring you wealth throughout the year. Also, abalone is called “bao yu” in Chinese, and “yu” also means abundance. 8. Nian Gao. This sticky cake has the same pronunciation as “high” in Chinese. Thus, by eating nian gao, we will soar to greater heights each As abalone is expensive (and even more expensive this year!), eating abalone during Chinese New Year is believed to bring you wealth throughout the year. Also, abalone is called ‘bao yu’ in Chinese, and ‘yu’ also means abundance. There' a chinese saying of 吃甜甜,好过年,meaning eating sweet for a good new year. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao because it has the symbolism of increasing prosperity every year. The New Year greeting 'Nian Nian Gao Sheng' (年年高升 niánnián gāoshēng) is to wish people "advance toward higher positions and The word for “fish” in Chinese sounds similar to the word for “surplus,” making it a must-have for those seeking increased wealth in the coming year. 5. Jujube (枣; zǎo, candied jujube: 蜜枣; mìzǎo): Wealth and Prosperity. Jujubes, in their natural or candied form, bring a touch of sweetness to the New Year table. Names of dishes and/or their ingrediets which will be served sound similar to words and phrases refering to wishes expressed during the Chinese New Year, while other foods hold a symbolic meaning. Food offerings are a prayer or a wish and can be addressed to ancestors and other beings such as the Jade Emperor and The Kitchen God . 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 Many Chinese traditions have at their root a homonym, the sound of a character sounding like another Chinese word and thus taking on its meaning. This becomes apparent at the banquet table as it is believed that what you eat will affect the coming year. At a traditional Chinese New Year banquet, there are 8 courses, as the word for eight sounds The auspicious symbolism of these traditional Chinese New Year foods is based on their pronunciations or appearance. The dishes themselves are important, but how they are made, served, and eaten are also very important. The most common Chinese New Year foods include dumplings, fish, spring rolls, and niangao. Weve rounded up 7 essential Chinese Popular during the Lantern Festival and Winter Solstice, this soupy dish with sweet rice balls is one of the most popular Chinese New Year dishes around when it comes to dessert. Their round shape symbolises togetherness and harmony, making them a favourite for family gatherings. Its Chinese name, bao yu, also loosely translates to ‘guaranteed prosperity’ — which is why it’s a long-time tradition to enjoy them as we usher in the new year. If you’re in charge of preparing the reunion dinner this 2025, read our guide on how to prepare some canned abalone recipes for CNY! Abalone is a prized ingredient in Chinese cuisine and is often served during special occasions, such as the Lunar New Year and reunion dinners. It is believed to symbolize abundance and prosperity, making it a popular choice for celebratory meals. Abalone is associated as a food item usually reserved for Lunar New Year because of its price and significance. Abalone is pronounced as bao yu (鲍鱼) in Cantonese and Mandarin, which sounds like "assurance" and “surplus", respectively. Combine the words, and you get a rough pronunciation of “assurance of surplus”. 7. Chinese Spinach (Phuay Leng) with Sliced Abalone . Why do the Chinese go crazy over abalone during the Lunar New Year? The Chinese name for Abalone is ‘Bao Yu’. ‘Bao’ means Guaranteed and ‘Yu’ means Excess. Put them together and you get Guaranteed Excess to the brim of overflowing. 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 Many Chinese traditions have at their root a homonym, the sound of a character sounding like another Chinese word and thus taking on its meaning. This becomes apparent at the banquet table as it is believed that what you eat will affect the coming year. At a traditional Chinese New Year banquet, there are 8 courses, as the word for eight sounds However, some people avoid eating eggs during certain festivals or days if they observe specific dietary customs, but generally, eggs are not prohibited during Chinese New Year. Q2: What is traditional Chinese New Year menu? A traditional Chinese New Year menu features symbolic foods that represent luck, prosperity, happiness, and longevity. Taking naps, especially on the first day of the Chinese New Year, represents laziness. In Chinese culture, taking naps on the first day of the new year will affect your luck and career for the rest of the year. 9. Avoid breaking things in your home No need for any cooking and sweating over the stove, and we particularly appreciate the soft and tender mouthfeel of the abalone. First Grade New Zealand Wild Abalone (2’s) You cannot serve the Chinese delicacy of Buddha Jumps Over The Wall without some abalone. And the Kinohimitsu wild-caught New Zealand range makes for an exquisite complement. Again, word association explains the tradition. The word nian gao sounds like “higher year,” representing a better year to come. “People eat rice cake because in Chinese, the cake carries the meaning of height, so if you eat cake, it means that in the new year, you will have good luck,” Xiu said.
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