Food Symbolism during Chinese New Year Celebrations

(Chinadaily.com.cn)

Updated: 2013-02-05

Pomegranate (石榴; shíliu) - many offsprings

Pomelo (柚子; yòuzi) - abundance, prosperity, having children, good health, family unity

Pork (猪肉; zhūròu) - strength, wealth, abundant blessing

Prawn (大虾; dàxiā) - liveliness

Pumpkin (南瓜; nánguā) - prosperity, abundance, descendant's luck, illustrious children, enchantment, fruit draws earth energy to manifest gold

Rice (米饭; mǐfàn) - fertility, luck, wealth, rice symbolizes a link between Heaven (Gods) and Earth (Men) Nian gao, (Chinese: 年糕; pinyin: nián'gāo) Sticky (Rice) cake, Chinese new year's cake. It is considered good luck to eat nian gao because it has the symbolism of increasing prosperity every year. The New Year greeting 'Nian Nian Gao Sheng' (年年高升 niánnián gāoshēng) is to wish people "advance toward higher positions and prosperity step by step." Sticky rice - cohering of family Rice is one of the Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty

Roseapple (Syzygium jambos; 蒲桃; pú táo) - calmness, peace of mind, no fighting

Seaweed, especially black moss, Fat Choy, (in Chinese: 髮菜; pinyin: fàcài; literal meaning: hair vegetable). The two syllables of Fat Choy in Cantonese sound the same as a Cantonese Chinese New Year greeting "Gung1 hei2 faat3 choi4" (恭喜发财) meaning "congratulations and be prosperous"; additional meanings: - good luck, exceeding wealth.

Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. - having a large number of children 籽 [zǐ]

Shitake, Black mushroom (冬菇; dōnggū) - longevity, sizing opportunities

Shrimp (小虾; xiǎoxiā) - happiness and good fortune

Slender Noodle (細粉; xì fě) - see glass noodle

Snowpeas (荷蘭豆; hélándòu) - unity

Spring roll (春卷; chūnjuǎn) - wealth (the shape represents a gold bar)

Sweet corn (甜玉米; tián yùmǐ) - growth, increase

Sweets, (糖食; tángshí, 糖果;tángguǒ) rice cake (年糕; nián'gāo) - safety, good fortune and 'sweeten' the new year

Tangerine (橘; jú) - luck

Tangtuan (湯團, tāngtuán,"round dumplings in soup"), sweet dumplings - togetherness, reunion

Tangyuan ( 湯圓 ,tāngyuán, "round balls in soup"), sweet dumplings - togetherness, reunion

Tofu, dried (豆腐干; dòufǔgān) - fulfillment of wealth and happiness, blessing the houses (note: dried tofu is not of white colour)

Tofu, fried (炸豆腐; zhá dòufǔ) - gold, hence wealth

Turnip cake (萝卜糕; luóbo gāo) - good omen

Vegetable, green (绿叶菜; lǜyècài) - close family ties vegetable/ tofu (dried) - harmony, happiness and prosperity

Walnut (核桃仁; hétàorén) - happiness of the entire family

Water chestnut (荸薺; bíqí) - unity

Winter noodel (冬粉, dōng fěn) - see glass noodle

Yuanxiao, sweet dumpling (元宵; yuánxiāo) - togetherness, reunion

NOTE: Presenting a ‘whole’ chicken with its head, tail and feet symbolizes completeness. Fresh bean curd / tofu is not included as it is white and unlucky for New Year as the colour signifies death and misfortune. Fresh fruits symbolise life and new beginnings. Sugared fruits are supposed to sweeten one’s upcoming year. Sweets and fruits are served on a round tray, the form resembling togetherness, hence the tray is called the 'Tray of Togetherness'. Sweets offered on the tray add up to the number 8, because eight is a lucky number and symbolises fortune. A coin might be hidden in one dumpling, and the person who will find it is supposed to be showered with good fortune and wealth.

 

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