It’s February and Chinese (or Lunar) New Year is right in the corner! The joyful celebration not only comes with face-lifting red packets, but also all the good foods we made for our ancestors; vegetable soup, roasted pig, and many more! But do you know that all these foods have their own meaning behind and all these will also bring you luck? Read on!

 

#1 Fish

The word fish in Chinese sounds like the word “surplus”. 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. Please make sure that the fish is a whole fish (the head is still attached to the fin) and do not flip the fish while you are eating or should be left over. Otherwise, the superstitious holds that there will be scarcity instead of abundance.

#2 Spring roll

Spring roll can be found in almost every Chinese festive meal. But here during Chinese New Year, spring rolls are thought to be alike to gold bar. And by having that, it is a wish for prosperity.

#3 Dumplings

Dumplings represent wealth as it assembles to the traditional Chinese silver ingots (boat-shaped, oval, and turned up at the two ends). This popular dish is on the list because more dumplings you eat during the New Year celebrations, the more money you can make in the New Year.

#4 Sweet Rice Balls

The sweet rice balls (Tangyuan) might be popular because it has its own festival celebrations. But since the pronunciation and round shape of tangyuan are associated with reunion and being together, the dish is common on the table during New Year.

 

#5 Fruit

            1). Tangerines or Kumquats or Oranges

There could be a lot of fruit in one basket, but fruits like tangerines and oranges are brought onto the table because of their round and "golden" in color, symbolizing fullness and wealth, and obviously for their similar pronunciation to “Luck”.

          2). Pomelo

Another citrus fruit, quite an orange alike, but pomelo is thought to bring continuous prosperity and status. It is also symbolic of good health, fertility and family unity.

       3). Dragon Fruit

Dragon fruit for Chinese New Year will bring you luck and prosperity.

 

4). Longan

Cambodian people believe longan will bring you luck, in contrast to Chinese phrase for longan is to bring many sons.

#6 Tray of Togetherness

You will see Tray of Togetherness when you visit someone’s home on Chinese New Year. This tray is put out for visiting relatives to snack on or given as a gift. It is filled with things such as candy melon for growth and good health, red melon seeds for joy/happiness/truth, lychee nuts for close family ties, kumquats for wealth, coconut for togetherness, peanuts for long life and lotus seeds for many children. The tray should have 8 compartments which is the number for good luck.

#7 Longevity Noodle

The Longevity noodle are longer in size than the typical noodle we have. They symbolize a wish for longevity as their length and unsevered preparation would reflect to the prayer’s life.

#8 Steamed Chicken

See quite a lot of steamed chicken whenever we do for praying. Steamed chicken must cook and serve as a whole because it will bring the wholeness and prosperity to us. However, we will see white cut chicken on the dining table on Chinese New Year. White cut chicken is a whole chicken that has been poached in a broth, therefore; resulting in a sort of colorless dish but fortunately it is flavorful, moist and tender. Overall, chicken is symbolic of prosperity and togetherness.

#9 Prosperity Cake

Prosperity Cake also known as Fa Gao, these rice flour cakes are steamed and often dyed yellow or pink to add to the festival mood. The Chinese character Fa means both leavened and prosperity. Keep an eye out for the blossoming of the cake after they rise. The more petals that blossom, the more prosperous you will be – so we know which one we’ll be grabbing.

#10 Yee Sang

Yee Sang or Yusheng is a Cantonese-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (sometimes salmon), mixed with shredded vegetable, various sauces and condiments. Yee Sang in Chinese is symbolic of abundance, prosperity and vigor. Don’t forget to mix the salad and toss it up high. The higher you toss, the more prosperous for you!

#11 Shrimp

Shrimp is delicious and we know it. But, it has its own symbol of abundance and prosperity.

#12 Roasted Poultry

Duck, chicken and pork has a similar meaning of luck, prosperity and status. Once you roasted them, the meaning of these meats becomes more meaningful. Roast is red and red is the color of happiness for Chinese people.

#13 Mung Bean Noodle

Mung Bean Noodle is also known as Silver Chain which means longevity and abundance like a silver chain.

#14 Shitake Mushroom and Wood Ear Fungus

These two foods are often used in hot pot and stir-fried noodle. They both have the same meaning which is longevity.

#15 Green Vegetable

Green Vegetable is a healthy food and you will see it on all the tables for ancestors praying ceremony, because it represents close family ties.

#16 Chab Chay (Mixed Vegetable Soup)

Every year after the first day Chinese New Year, you will hear the nagging of Cambodian-Chinese youth about Chab Chay. Following the Chinese tradition, it is believed that wasting food or throw away food is like you throw away your luck. Therefore, the left over from praying ceremony is mixed in a pot and Chab Chay is happened. Chab Chay is considered a lucky pot as it is filled with green vegetable + Shitake Mushroom + Wood Ear Fungus + pork + chicken……. – the best luck and happiness food for the year.

Source: China Highlights; Chinese New Year Food: Top 7 Lucky Foods and Symbolism (Tang, 2019)