Chinese New Year Foods That Bring Good Luck

Chinese New Year Foods That Bring Good Luck

Gathering with family while enjoying Chinese New Year is obligatory for those who celebrate. During the celebration of this big day, a lot of food is present on the dining table. Every family must have its own tradition of presenting Chinese New Year food. But, what is certain, from snacks to desserts, everything has a meaning that symbolizes good luck.

Ponkam oranges

Must be presented along with the leaves that are still attached to the stem. This golden yellow color symbolizes prosperity that grows continuously. Leaves signify life and well-being.

Basket Cake

Quoted from dan gui sichuan cuisine, cakes are usually presented in a terraced form with added cupcakes on top, intended as a sign of prosperity. The sweet taste is also a hope that each family member will always be in a sweet relationship, and always be ‘sticky’ or close to each other like the stickiness of a basket cake.

Cupcakes

These pink cupcakes also often appear during Imel celebrations. Usually served together with basket cakes. This red cupcake symbolizes sustenance that will always bloom throughout the year, like its shape which resembles a blooming flower.

Yee Sang (Yusheng)

This salad, which is often served in Singapore and Malaysia during Chinese New Year, has a unique way of eating it. Namely, by stirring all the ingredients together using chopsticks and holding them up while calling out “Lo Hei” (high).

Tea Eggs

Is an egg boiled with tea and extra soy sauce. This meal is not only a stamina enhancer, but also symbolizes fertility.

Jiao Zi (Kuo Tie)

Dumplings or what we usually call dumplings in dum sum dishes. Its shape which resembles Yuanbao (Chinese currency in the past) symbolizes prosperity. Because it is also often served when eating with the extended family, this food can also be interpreted as togetherness.

Duck or Chicken

Generally the obligatory Chinese New Year food is eaten in order to get something that resembles the food, such as Jiaozhi which symbolizes money. But, different from chicken dishes. This dish symbolizes loyalty and obedience. But in Chinese culture, ducks or chickens are said to be greedy animals. Eating duck and chicken is served during Chinese New Year celebrations so that those who eat them avoid these bad traits. Duck or chicken, must be served whole.

Fish

Like a fish that contains a dualism of meaning. Fish have scales like snakes that are evil, but also often symbolize good luck. Just like chicken, eating fish is meant to avoid the evil nature of the snake. However, for various foods such as nian gao, it is often formed into the shape of a fish because it symbolizes good luck. Fish is also presented in its intact form on the dining table.