Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival (春节), is the most important traditional festival in China. It marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and is celebrated with various customs, including family reunions, firecrackers, and the exchange of red envelopes. One of the most significant aspects of this celebration is the food, which carries deep symbolic meanings associated with prosperity, happiness, longevity, and luck. This article will explore the traditional foods eaten during Chinese New Year, their meanings, and how they are prepared.
Dumplings (饺子, Jiǎozi)
Dumplings are one of the most iconic and traditional foods eaten during Chinese New Year, especially in northern China. The dumpling’s shape resembles ancient Chinese gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Eating dumplings on New Year’s Eve is believed to bring good fortune in the coming year.
How They Are Made:
Dumplings are typically made by filling thin dough wrappers with a mixture of minced pork, beef, shrimp, or vegetables. Some families hide a coin inside one dumpling, and whoever finds it is believed to have extra luck in the new year.
Variations:
Boiled Dumplings (水饺, Shuǐjiǎo) – The most common type, eaten with soy sauce and vinegar.
Pan-fried Dumplings (锅贴, Guōtiē) – Crispy on the bottom and soft on top.
Steamed Dumplings (蒸饺, Zhēngjiǎo) – Often preferred for a healthier option.
Fish (鱼, Yú)
Fish is a must-have dish during Chinese New Year because the word “fish” (鱼, Yú) sounds like “surplus” (余, Yú) in Chinese, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.
How It Is Prepared:
Fish is usually steamed with ginger, scallions, and soy sauce to retain its fresh flavor. It is customary to leave the fish head and tail intact to represent a good beginning and end to the year.
Customs:
Eating only part of the fish and saving the rest for the next day signifies that prosperity will be carried over into the new year.
The type of fish eaten can vary by region, with carp and catfish being popular choices.
Spring Rolls (春卷, Chūnjuǎn)
Spring rolls are golden, crispy rolls filled with vegetables, meat, or sweet bean paste. Their golden color resembles gold bars, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.
How They Are Made:
Thin pastry sheets are filled, rolled, and then deep-fried to create a crunchy exterior. They are typically served with dipping sauces such as soy sauce or sweet chili sauce.
Glutinous Rice Cake (年糕, Niángāo)
Glutinous rice cake, also known as “Niángāo,” is a sticky, sweet rice cake eaten during the festival. The word “Niángāo” sounds like “higher year” (年高), representing progress, promotions, and success in the coming year.
Types and Variations:
Sweet Niángāo – Made with glutinous rice flour, sugar, and red bean paste.
Savory Niángāo – Stir-fried with vegetables, meats, and soy sauce, popular in southern China.
Longevity Noodles (长寿面, Chángshòu Miàn)
Longevity noodles symbolize a long and prosperous life. They are longer than regular noodles and should not be cut when served to maintain the symbolic meaning of longevity.
How They Are Prepared:
They can be stir-fried with vegetables and meat or served in broth.
Eating the noodles without breaking them ensures good fortune and longevity.
Tangyuan (汤圆)
Tangyuan are sweet glutinous rice balls filled with sesame paste, red bean paste, or peanuts. They are eaten during the Lantern Festival at the end of Chinese New Year celebrations but are also enjoyed throughout the festival.
Symbolism:
The round shape represents family togetherness and unity.
How They Are Served:
Tangyuan is usually boiled and served in a warm, sweet soup.
Turnip Cake (萝卜糕, Luóbogāo)
Turnip cake is a savory dish made from shredded radish (turnip) and rice flour, mixed with Chinese sausage, dried shrimp, and mushrooms.
Symbolism:
The Chinese word for radish (菜头, Càitóu) sounds like “good fortune” (彩头, Cǎitóu).
How It Is Cooked:
The mixture is steamed and then pan-fried until golden brown, giving it a crispy texture on the outside.
Steamed Chicken (蒸鸡, Zhēng Jī)
Whole chicken is often served at Chinese New Year feasts because it represents family unity, prosperity, and rebirth.
How It Is Cooked:
The chicken is often steamed or poached and served with a dipping sauce made of soy sauce, ginger, and scallions.
Peking Duck (北京烤鸭, Běijīng Kǎoyā)
In some regions, Peking duck is a luxurious addition to the New Year’s feast. The crispy skin, juicy meat, and flavorful hoisin sauce make it a favorite celebratory dish.
How It Is Served:
The duck is roasted until crispy and served with thin pancakes, cucumbers, and scallions.
Eight-Treasure Rice (八宝饭, Bābǎofàn)
This is a sweet rice dish made with glutinous rice, red bean paste, lotus seeds, and various dried fruits.
Symbolism:
Each ingredient in this dish represents prosperity, good fortune, and happiness.
Hot Pot (火锅, Huǒguō)
Hot pot is a communal dish where family members cook a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables in a simmering pot of broth.
Symbolism:
The round shape of the hot pot signifies unity and family togetherness.
Popular Ingredients:
Sliced meats (beef, lamb, pork)
Shrimp, fish, and crab
Tofu, mushrooms, and leafy greens
Sticky Rice Balls with Red Dates (红枣糯米饭, Hóngzǎo Nuòmǐ Fàn)
Sticky rice and red dates are combined to create a sweet, chewy dish that symbolizes happiness and fertility.
Prosperity Toss (鱼生, Yúshēng)
This is a colorful raw fish salad popular in Malaysia and Singapore’s Chinese communities. It is tossed together while family members shout auspicious phrases for good fortune.
Sesame Seed Balls (煎堆, Jiānduī)
These deep-fried glutinous rice balls are coated in sesame seeds and filled with sweet bean paste or lotus paste. Their round shape represents completeness and prosperity.
Fortune Fruits
Certain fruits are commonly eaten during Chinese New Year because their names or appearances symbolize good luck and prosperity.
Examples:
Oranges and Tangerines (橙, Júzi) – Symbolize wealth and good luck.
Pomegranates (石榴, Shíliú) – Represent fertility and family harmony.
Pineapples (菠萝, Bōluó) – The name sounds like “prosperity” in some dialects.
Conclusion
Chinese New Year is a time of celebration, family gatherings, and delicious food, each dish carrying symbolic meaning to bring prosperity, happiness, and longevity in the coming year. Whether it’s dumplings for wealth, fish for abundance, or longevity noodles for a long life, each meal is a feast filled with tradition and culture. No matter where you are, embracing these culinary customs during Chinese New Year is a great way to welcome good fortune and prosperity into your life.
