Chinese New Year Food Symbolism
This is done to prolong the surplus and ensure that the future is prosperous.
Chinese new year food symbolism. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao because it has the symbolism of increasing prosperity every year. The most common chinese new year foods include dumplings fish spring rolls and niangao. Chicken is also popular at chinese new year symbolizing a good marriage and the coming together of families serving the bird whole emphasizes family unity.
Fish is an important chinese new year food symbolizing abundance and an increase in prosperity. The lunar new year is celebrated by the chinese vietnamese japanese korean mongolians and tibetans. During the feast only half of the fish is eaten while the other half is saved for the following day.
Wholeness is an important concept during chinese new year. Kuih kapek or love letters. The lucky meaning of this new year treat comes from the pronunciation of pineapple in cantonese wong lye which happens to sound like cantonese for beckoning prosperity this treat is typically baked to a golden brown in the oven supporting its wealth related symbolism.
Every year many traditional festivals and events are celebrated with special foods. At a chinese wedding chicken s feet sometimes referred to as phoenix feet are often served with dragon foods such as lobster. 06 of 10 seeds lotus seeds watermelon seeds etc.
Many foods are cooked and served. For instance having dumplings in the chinese new year feasts is the symbol of wealth and prosperity and this is another of the chinese new year food that you don t want to miss out on. Many of the festivities center around food and dishes are chosen because they symbolize health prosperity or luck.
Not only does it mean a good beginning and end to the year it signifies completion in work and life. The chinese for catfish 鲶鱼 niányú nyen yoo sounds like 年余 nián yú meaning year surplus. Not only do the dishes themselves matter but also the preparation and ways of serving and eating mean a lot.