| Chinese New Year - What food to eat? |
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| Last Update : 25 Dec 2007 |
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Food plays major roles in almost all Chinese festivals and celebrations as it is very important in Chinese culture. There is no exception for the most important celebration among the Chinese - Chinese New Year.
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The Chinese New Year (or "Spring festival") celebration starts from the first day of the lunar calendar and last for 15 days. Traditionally the Chinese New Year is cerebrated with religious ceremony honouring the heaven and earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. For modern Chinese families, it is a good time for reunion. Family members who are staying abroad will go back to their parent’s home and have reunion dinner on the Chinese New Year eve. Reunion dinner is seemed the most important dinner throughout the year.
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Not all 15 day of Chinese New Year celebrations are the same. There are some special days with special celebration. For example, some families prefer to have vegetarian food on the 1st day of the celebration; have “Yu Sang” (a special dish in Malaysia Chinese community) on the 7th day.
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Foods are very important during the celebration and they always carry a "good meaning" or present a "good symbolic".
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| Symbolic Chinese Foods |
Many traditional dishes include ingredients holds special meaning. Take note of it and plan your Chinese New Year menu to incorporate these most auspicious foods.
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The symbolic significance of foods is based on appearance and also the sounds of the food pronounced in Chinese words (Mandarin or dialect). For example fish, should be a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance; a chicken presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness and prosperity; Uncut noodles represent long life.
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Other examples such as
• Nian Gao (年糕): Grow higher each year. Also means more prosperities
• Lotus seed: having many male offspring
• Ginkgo nut: represents silver ingots
• Black moss seaweed: is a homonym for exceeding in wealth
• Dumplings (JiaoZi) - Good luck, fortune, and family togetherness
• Lettuce - Prosperity
• Noodles - When noodles are served, they are never cut because long noodles represent long-life.
• Turnips - "Cai tou," the word for turnip, also means "good omen."
• Meat balls - Symbolize reunion because the Chinese word "rou wan" is the same for both
Chicken - Like fish, chickens are served whole to symbolizing togetherness of the family.
• Garlic chives - Symbolize "everlasting"
• Bamboo shoots - The word for bamboo shoots also sounds like the phrase for "wishing that everything would be well"
• Prawns - Stand for liveliness and happiness
• Mixed vegetables - Represent family harmony
• Dried bean curd - Like many of the foods that are served because the Chinese word for it also means something else, dried bean curd (tofu) symbolizes wealth and happiness
• Oysters: Receptivity to good fortune
• Chinese New Year Fruits: Tangerine, Mandarin Orange, Kumquats, Pomelo, Gourd, Buddha's Hand
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| Vegetarian Food |
The first day of the Chinese New Year is the welcoming day for the Gods of heaven and earth.
Traditionally, during this day, family members will stay close and enjoy a vegetarian meal instead
of meat as to ensure a happy, safe and long life. Han Jai (罗汉斋) is one of the most famous traditional
vegetarian dishes. Click here to know more about Lo Han Jai (罗汉斋).
More about vegetarian foods:
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Chinese Vegetarian - Ingredients and Recipes
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| Biscuits and Cookies |
During the 15 day Chinese New Year celebrations, every household keeps their tables topped up with sweet and savoury
specialties so they can welcome family and friends with a choice of festive.
Tray of Togetherness is prepared/available in almost all family. It is an octagonal tray filled with a dazzling array of treats,
from nuts to sweets.
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| 7th Day - “Everybody’s Birthday” |
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The seventh day of the Chinese New Year is known as "Everybody's Birthday" (人日).
The famous food to have in this day is called "Yu Sang" (魚生). This is a specialty dish
originated from Malaysia. Normally colleagues will have this meal together and wish
everybody have greater year ahead.
"Seven Vegetable Soup" (七菜羹) is another famous dish to have during this day. it represents harvest and reminds people to start working hard after the celebration.
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| 15th Day – “Chinese’s Valentine's Day” |
This day also called “Yuan Xiao” (元宵) or “Chap Goh Meh”, which is also known as the Lantern Festival. Decorative lanterns are hung both indoors and outdoors and lantern parties become the major attraction for everyone to enjoy. During the ascent time in China, young ladies were not allowed to hang on the street. This is to only evening throughout the year, they were granted the permission to go out from the confines of their homes. They dressed in their bejewelled best and walked in the street. That is the best time gentlemen to look for their princess and begins their romance.
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