The Chinese love citrus fruits as much as they love word play, puns and especially homonyms—words that sound like other words. Because the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like "luck" and the word for orange sounds like "wealth," the fruits are prized both for table display and gift giving during Chinese New Year. The Many Symbols of the Chinese New Year. Chinese culture is rich with symbolism. This is especially so during the Chinese New Year celebration, which is associated with many symbols and customs. Certain colors, fruits, flowers, animals, actions, and sounds are examples of things that have special symbolic meaning. Oranges and tangerines are a must for the New Year! In Chinese culture, the word for tangerine, “kam,” sounds like the word for “luck.” And their round, golden shape? It’s the perfect symbol for wealth and abundance! That’s why they’re given as gifts or used as decorations to bring success and happiness in the new year. 3. A s families gear up for the Lunar New Year, Workers loading pots of tangerines—a type of mandarins—from a truck in a flower farm for Chinese New Year in Hong Kong, Jan. 22, 2003. GO BACK Tangerines play a significant role in Lunar New Year celebrations. The Chinese word for tangerine sounds like "luck," while the word for orange resembles "wealth." Their vibrant gold color symbolizes prosperity, making these fruits prized for table displays and gift-giving during the festivities. Historically, parents in the Qing Dynasty placed oranges near their children’s 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 Overflowing piles of oranges, tangerines and kumquats in street markets and homes epitomise Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. In Cantonese, the common tangerine or mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata Why? Let’s talk about why citrus is important. Why Citrus Trees for Chinese New Year? The words orange and tangerine sound like the words for luck and wealth in Chinese (because there are many dialects in China, we’ll leave it at that). The orange or golden color of the fruit resembles gold or money. Why Tangerines For Chinese New Year? Tangerines and mandarin oranges play a vital role in the celebration of Chinese New Year, serving as symbols of luck, pr 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 Significance of Colors in Chinese New Year Symbols. Colors play a crucial role in Chinese New Year symbolism, with each hue carrying its own meaning and significance. Red: The Color of Good Fortune. Red is the most prominent color during Chinese New Year celebrations. It symbolizes good luck, happiness, and prosperity. Two of the most common food symbols of the Chinese New Year are tangerines and oranges. Whereas tangerines represent wealth, oranges are a popular symbol of good luck.The associations come from a similarity between the Chinese words for tangerine and gold, as well as a resemblance between the words orange and good luck. Guide to Chinese New Year~ Tangerines Mandarins Auspicious Meaning & More The Chinese word for these "baby oranges" is "Gut" (桔) which puns on luck, so the more fruits the better! Oranges and Other Citrus Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year gifts because they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” closely resemble the words for “luck” and “wealth.” The gold color of these fruits also symbolizes prosperity. Why do we give oranges on Chinese Read More »Do You Give The Chinese word for fish, yu, is a homophone for abundance, and the phrase nian nian you yu, commonly expressed during the New Year, means “a year of abundance”. It is customary to eat the In Chinese, "fish" (鱼 Yú /yoo/) sounds like 'surplus'. Fish is a traditional Chinese New Year dish on the Chinese New Year dinner menu. Chinese people always like to have a surplus at the end of the year, because they think if they have managed to save something at the end of the year, then they can make more in the next year. Dumplings Caitriana Nicholson/Flickr. Resembling coin purses, dumplings are said to bring wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. Traditionally filled with a mixture of meat, tofu, egg, and/or Just in time for New Year's Eve. There were no other fresh fruits on the Soviet New Year's table, so tangerines, with their pleasant citrus smell and already affordable price, immediately found their place. Since then, many generations have been buying tangerines for New Year's Eve, even though, today, you can get any kind of exotic fruit. Oranges, kumquats, tangerines and pomelos are common Chinese New Year gifts because they’re believed to bring good luck and happiness. The Chinese words for “orange” and “tangerine” closely resemble the words for “luck” and “wealth.” The gold color of these fruits also symbolizes prosperity. What do oranges symbolize?
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