Are you ready for Chinese New Year? Have you ever thought about your food choices for the celebration? Well, Here’s your guide for your Chinese Food choices in preparation for the Lunar New Year.
The said celebration will not be made perfect without “lucky” foods on the table, which are served through the two weeks Chinese New Year, also called the Spring festival.
The symbolic significance of a food during Chinese New Year may be based on its physical appearance or on the way the Chinese word for it sounds.
Now, below are some symbolic Chinese foods that will surely make the event more meaningful:
Eggs
Eggs have a special symbolic importance in many cultures especially in China. Chinese believe that eggs symbolize fertility. Once a baby is born, parents may clutch a “red egg and ginger party,” where they pass out hard boiled eggs to reveal the birth. However, in some regions of China the number of eggs presented depends on the sex of the child where an even number is for a girl and an odd number if a boy has been born).
Noodles
Noodles represent a long life in Chinese culture. Since it symbolizes long life, be sure not to cut them. Noodles at Chinese New Year are to be made as long as possible.
Fish
A fish served whole is an emblem of prosperity. It has a symbolic significance because the Chinese term for fish is “yu” which sounds like the word for riches or abundance. It is also believed that eating fish will help your wishes come true in the year to come.
Fish can be cooked in different ways such as boiling, steaming, and braising. The most famous Chinese fish dishes include West Lake fish with pickled cabbage and chili, steamed weever, steamed fish in vinegar sauce, and boiled fish with spicy broth.
Duck
Ducks represent fidelity in Chinese Culture. So, be sure to have them on your table. (You’ll find them served at New Year’s banquet for the same purpose).
Chicken
Chicken is a popular food for Chinese New Year symbolizing good marriage and the coming together of families (serving the whole bird emphasizes family unity).
Seeds (lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc.)
If you are thinking of starting a family of your own this year, consider using pomegranate, watermelon (seeds) or pomelo in one of your dishes. They stand for ‘many offspring’, and ‘family unity’. The seed-filled treats represent bearing many children in Chinese culture.
Fruit –( Tangerine, Oranges and Pomelos)
Mandarin oranges are the most popular and most abundant fruit during Chinese New Year. Since the words for orange and tangerine sound like “good fortune and luck”, these juicy citrus are handed out generously during the celebration (in duos).
Cake
Cakes are one of the foods popularly known all over the world. They’re sweet and tempting. During Chinese New Year, Cakes such as Sticky Rice Cake have symbolic significance on many ranks. Their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, while the layers symbolize rising abundance for the coming year. Finally, the round shape signifies family reunion.
Vegetables
Don’t forget it! It’s not just a lucky food but it’s also good for the health. Chinese garlic chives symbolizes eternity, while cone-shaped winter bamboo shoots are a symbol of wealth.
