Yummy Chinese New Year

We all know that Chinese New Year is coming up, and it is the year of the dog! But, does everyone know the traditional foods that are usually eaten and the meanings behind it? Well, continue reading if you are interesting.

One of the most important and ancient traditions is for the family to get together and have a dinner the night before Chinese New Year, very similar to an American’s Thanksgiving Eve feast! This get-together is known as “团年饭”. During this meal, there are many common foods people usually eat during Chinese New Year because they all have symbolic meanings!

年糕 (nián gāo):
This glutinous rice cake’s name is referenced in the phrase, “年年高升” as 年糕 sounds similar to “年高”. This common Chinese New Year greeting can mean two different things for different generations. For children, it can symbolize the growth in height. For the older generation, it can be said to wish people an advance in a position or a promotion. The 年糕 is also sweet, symbolizing harmony.

鱼 (yú):
Fish, or 鱼, is normally associated with another popular Chinese New Year greeting: “年年有余” meaning that there will be a surplus amount of food or money every year. The tradition following eating fish is to leave a little bit at the end to consume the next day to show that there is leftover for the new year. In some cases, people decided not to eat the fish at all- it’s just there to look at!

饺子 (jiǎo zi):
饺子, or dumplings, are often thought of as fortune or gold. This is due to the fact that the 饺子 is shaped to look the same as ancient Chinese money. The phrase or greeting that is often affiliated with this dish is “招财进宝,” which wishes one wealth and success.

春卷 (chūn juǎn):
Eating 春卷 from the top to the bottom represents “有头有尾”. This phrase tells people to persevere and to not give up halfway, as you should finish everything you start. In other parts of China, 春卷 could also represent wealth as it resembles a gold bar.

Sources:
http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/Chinese_Customs/food_symbolism.html