Chinese New Year (CNY) is a festival of reunion, gathering of friends and relatives, firecrackers, red packets (angpow), and festive decorations. From the decoration to auspicious greetings and the well-known reunion feast, Chinese New Year is the epitome of Chinese customs and traditions for Chinese all over the world.
Food prepared to celebrate the CNY season plays a pivotal role in the celebrations as they each carry a specific auspicious significance for the new year. Boost your luck, wealth, prosperity, and pave a smooth year ahead with these 8 auspicious treats during the Lunar New Year.
Lucky Delicacies For Lunar New Year
So if you’re looking to boost your luck, wealth, prosperity and pave a smooth year ahead, give in to the age-old traditions and make sure you eat these yummy 8 dishes during CNY!
Dumplings
Significance: Wealth
Money notes were not used as currency in ancient times, but gold or silver ingots were used as money, and dumplings resemble them. They are mostly eaten on the eve of CNY because, according to old wives’ tales, the more dumplings you consume equates to the more money will make in the coming year. It is a common delicacy during Lunar New Year
Glutinous Rice Cake, “Nian Gao” (年糕)
Significance: Prosperity
As glutinous rice cake sounds like it means “higher year” in the Chinese language, it is believed that those who eat the Nian Gao will achieve new heights and be prosperous in business for the new year. This delicacy is readily available during the Lunar New Year and can be easily purchased.
Fish, “Yu” (鱼)
Significance: Abundance
As with most food items on this list, fish in the Chinese language sounds like “surplus”, which is why many consume fish during CNY as it signifies surplus and abundance. Fish dishes are familiar in CNY reunion dinners as well as during the festive season.
Spring Roll
Significance: Wealth
A dish that has many variations and named after the season, traditional spring rolls are wrapped to resemble bars of gold and are eaten to bring endless wealth and prosperity in the new year.
Longevity Noodles
Significance: Long life and happiness
Carrying the same significance as the birthday noodles, consuming longevity noodles is believed to represent long life, good health, and happiness.
Roasted Meat,” Rou Gan” (肉干)
Significance: Luck and wealth
Loved for its auspicious red color and savory-sweet taste, Rou Gan signifies luck, wealth, and prosperity (and it tastes incredible)! Originating from China, the Rou Gan in Singapore is of a slightly sweeter version, and it is grilled over charcoal for a stronger taste.
Mandarin Oranges
Significance: Wealth and good luck
Beloved for their bright golden-orange color, sweetness, and round shape, mandarin oranges are eaten during the season to symbolize success and luck.
Glutinous Rice Balls, ”Tang Yuan” (汤圆)
Glutinous Rice Balls, ”Tang Yuan” (汤圆)
Significance: Togetherness and harmony with your loved ones
Not just eaten during CNY but also during various festivals throughout the year, due to its Chinese pronunciation, eating glutinous rice balls is said to bring togetherness and harmony.
This is the season to share the prosperity with your friends and family with our wide range of Chinese New Year hampers and flowers that would make great gifts for your business associates and friends. We also have a range of decorative plants, auspicious lime trees, feng shui pants, and Way Fengshui pieces to beautify and brighten up your space.
