Epoch Times Staff
The Lunar New Year is by far the most important holiday for Chinese families and a large part of what makes the holiday is the food. Most dishes and foods eaten during the Chinese New Year are culturally significant and eaten for unique reasons.
In many Chinese families, there are a few staple dishes that should always be on the table during New Year’s, whereas other dishes may vary.
Lunar New Year Staples:
Wontons and Dumplings — Before dumplings came about, wontons (hún dùn, 餛飩) were eaten because the word for wonton in Chinese carries the meaning of new beginnings. Phonetically, it also sounds like the term that describes a well-stocked grain bin, representing a wholesome new year and a good harvest.
Later on, wontons were made into the shape of a crescent moon, and became dumplings. The tradition of eating dumplings had already become popular throughout China during the Tang Dynasty.
Wontons are a traditional Chinese New Year staple, representing new beginnings as well as a good harvest. (Jiang Boyi/The Epoch Times)
According to custom, dumplings should be eaten when the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve. This is because the Chinese term for dumplings jiǎo zǐ (餃子) can represent that hour of midnight (the hour of zi), also signifying a new beginning and the transition into a new year. Some also say that dumplings take on a similar shape as yuán bǎo (元寶), gold and silver ingots used in Imperial China, which symbolizes wealth.
Long noodles—Long noodles are often called longevity noodles, because that’s what they represent—a long and prosperous life. The noodles should not be broken or cut in pieces in the cooking process. This dish came about after the Tang Dynasty, since before then, noodles were not long and thin, but more like dough flakes.
Other Popular New Year Dishes
Nian gao, or “year” cake, is made of sweetened, glutinous rice and carries the wish that this year will be better than the last. (Lin Xiuxia/The Epoch Times)
Phonetics plays a big part in determining what foods are eaten during New Year’s. For example, fish (yú, 魚) is generally served because the word for fish in Chinese also means “surplus,” which reflects a prosperous year. The head and the tail should be intact because it represents the entire year.
Dishes with eggs are also popular because they symbolize fertility. Tofu, or dòu fú (豆腐) is eaten because it sounds like the words that mean “good fortune for all.”
Some snack foods that are eaten include dates (dried and fresh), which is zǎo (棗) in Chinese, also the pronunciation for “early,” and this alludes to an early arrival of spring; dried persimmons, which represent a smooth year; and sticky rice cake “nián gāo (年糕),” which phonetically means “year high,” representing a wish to someone that this year will be better (higher) than the last.
Happy Chinese New Year!
