Lunar New Year feast for abundance
A quick guide to the lunar new year foods
One of the wonderful parts of the Lunar New Year festivities throughout southeast asia are the delicious banquets that are shared amongst friends and family during the 16-day New Year celebrations that begin on Lunar New Year eve. Certain dishes are included for their symbolic meaning as they bring abundance, good luck, prosperity and longevity. Here is a brief summary of eight of my favourites.
Dumplings
These signify prosperity and abundance, as they resemble the old silver ingots that were used as traditional currency in times past.
It is said that the more dumplings you eat, the more money and abundance will come into your life over the coming year.
Pineapple tarts
The golden color of the pineapples represent gold and representing prosperity and abundance.
In Hokkien and Cantonese dialects, the word for pineapple “ong lai” sounds like the words for ‘wealth arrives’.
Spring rolls
Spring rolls resemble bars of gold, as such they signify good fortune and prosperity for the upcoming year.
Longevity Noodles
These noodles are longer than normal, and symbolise a wish for longevity and happiness.
They are usually served stirfried on a plate or boiled with broth in a bowl.
Oranges, Tangerines and other orange citrus fruits
These citrus fruits are all round and ‘golden’ in color; representing fullness, wealth, luck and prosperity.
The word for orange and tangerine closley resemble the words for ‘luck’ and ‘prosperity’.
The word for pomelos sounds like ‘to have again’ and represent ‘continuing prosperity’
Fish
The word for ‘fish’ in Mandarin dialect is pronounced the same as the word for ‘abundance’.
It should be served as a whole fish with the head pointing at a distinguished guest or elder as a sign of respect.
Glutinous rice cake (nian gao)
This lucky food represents a higher income or position; it’s a wish for better year. This could mean a promotion or payrise. For younger people, this can be a wish for growing taller or better grades.
Nian gao is prepared by slicing, and dipping in beaten egg before frying. This is best served warm for a gooey sweet treat.
Glutinous/sweet rice balls (tang yuan)
Tang yuan are balls of glutinous rice flour boiled and served in a sweet soup for dessert. They often have a sweet filling like black sesame seed, peanut, lotus seed paste or red bean paste.
The round shape are associated with reunion and togetherness representing family togetherness.
Which of these lucky foods will you be eating over the next 16 days to improve your fortune for the year? Does knowing their symbolic meanings change the way you view these foods? Or does it add more to the experience? Let us know in the comments.