Like the Vietnamese New Year tradition, the Lunar New Year is also a very important occasion in China. Besides welcoming the new year, this is also considered an opportunity to meet friends and relatives and gather together around the traditional Tet tray.
On the first days of the new year, countless delicious, beautiful and traditional dishes will be prepared. Not only that, each dish has its own meaning, thereby expressing the people’s desire to be full, peaceful and prosperous.
Whole fish
Symbol: Prosperity and abundance
The impossible highlight of the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner is the presence of fish dishes. Accordingly, the word “fish” in Chinese when pronounced means the word “fish” is close to the pronunciation of the word “yú” which means “abundant”. The most special thing about this fish dish is that they will not eat all of it, but only eat the body of the fish and the tail and head of the fish will be left overnight from the point of view of “residual annuities”.
Char siu meat
Symbols: Happiness, vitality and good omen
In Asian culture, red is the color that symbolizes luck. It represents the life of the “red” sun and is also the color of luck and power. So, of course, red foods are often incorporated in the celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Longevity noodles
Symbol: Long life
Like the name “longevity”, this noodle dish is simple but always present on special occasions of the Chinese people such as the Lunar New Year or birthday as a wish of luck. The main ingredients of this dish include noodles used with water that is simmered from boneless roast duck, cut meat and some vegetables such as mushrooms, celery, shallots, etc. However, the noodles will not be cut. to be long because it symbolizes the meaning of long life and longevity.
Sparkling puller
Symbol: Wealth
Especially for people from Northern China, making dumplings together is one of the activities to bring together the family. That’s why the dumpling scene in Asian Super Rich Children resonated with so many Chinese-Americans.
It is known that dumpling is considered a lucky food in the Chinese New Year because it has a traditional crescent shape similar to the gold and silver ingots used in ancient China.
According to Chinese custom, before New Year’s Eve, dumplings are prepared by family members and eaten after midnight. The whole family gathers to pack dumplings, eat dumplings, have fun and warm up in the serene atmosphere of Tet. Usually, Chinese people believe that they will eat dumplings in odd numbers to have good luck
Spring rolls
Symbol: Wealth
A dish that has the same meaning as dumplings on New Year’s Day in China is spring rolls (spring rolls). Usually, spring rolls include pork, vegetables, and vermicelli that will be chopped, wrapped in rice paper and fried to a crispy golden color. The shape of spring rolls with the same yellow color is also the embodiment of gold bars, thereby bringing the meaning of fortune, wealth and abundance.
Banh Toi
Symbol: Growth and progress
Since ancient times, Banh To (Niao Gao) has been considered a very popular specialty in China, especially during Tet. Any Chinese family will prepare cakes for the New Year celebration.
The cake name “Nian Gao” refers to prosperity, progress, always going up, in which “gao” is cake, “nian” is binder, meaning sticky rice cake, sticky cake, people use this cake with Wishing family members will always be close to each other, stick together sustainably.
Drift cake/Effervescent cake
Icon: Family reunion
This is a special dish on New Year’s Day of families in Southern China. This dish is often eaten during the New Year’s Eve because “banh drift” (tang yuan) is the homonym of the word “union member”.
Besides, the round shape of the rice cakes also symbolizes the completeness of a family and is a good wish that all members can be together in the new year.
Citrus fruits
Symbol: Full happiness
The favorite dessert of Chinese people is fresh fruit and certainly the Lunar New Year cannot be without these fruits. On this occasion, fruits such as oranges, tangerines or persimmons or kumquats are the permanent fruits in the tray of the Chinese people.
With their round, succulent shape, they give a feeling of vitality and overflowing happiness. Plus, bright colors like cheerful yellows, oranges, and reds are also considered a ray of sunshine during the cold winter months.
Source: Reader’s Digest
