2024 Chinese New Year
If you are looking for a way to celebrate the Chinese New Year in 2024, you might want to try some of the traditional foods that are associated with this festive occasion.
In 2024, the Chinese New Year will start on February 10 and last for 15 days.
One of the highlights of the Chinese New Year celebration is the reunion dinner, which is held on the eve of the new year. This is a time for families to gather together and enjoy a feast of delicious dishes. Some of the most common foods that are served during the reunion dinner are:
A Lucky 8 Chinese New Year’s Eve Meal
Dumplings ā Wealth & Abundance
Chinese dumplings are shaped like gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and abundance. They are usually stuffed with meat, vegetables or coins, and eaten at midnight on New Yearās Eve. The more dumplings you eat, the more money you will make in the new year. If you find a coin in your dumpling, you will have extra good luck.
Spring Rolls
These are thin pastries rolled with different fillings such as cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, or meat. Spring rolls are golden and crispy, resembling gold bars. They represent wealth and happiness in the new year.
Rice Cakes
These are made of glutinous rice flour that is shaped into round or oval cakes. Rice cakes have a sticky and chewy texture, and they can be sweet or savory. Rice cakes symbolize higher income or status in the new year, as the word for cake sounds like high in Chinese.
Oranges and Tangerines ā Good Luck & Wealth
They are often displayed as decorations and exchanged as gifts among friends and relatives. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine sound like āluckā and āgoldā, respectively. If the fruits have leaves and stems attached, they also represent fertility.
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Pork & Greens ā Luck & Happiness
Green, leafy greens like kale, spinach, cabbage, and collard greens are considered lucky foods for the new year. They symbolize wealth, health, and growth, as well as a fresh start. Cook them with some garlic, onion, and bacon for a flavorful and fortunate dish.
Pork is another food that represents prosperity and abundance, as pigs are known to be fat and fertile animals. Eating pork on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and happiness in the new year. You can choose any cut of pork you like, from ham to ribs to roast, as long as itās tender and juicy.
Fish – Abundance
Fish is another auspicious food for New Yearās Eve, as the Chinese word for fish sounds like āsurplusā or āabundanceā. The fish should be served whole, with the head and tail intact, and some of the fish should be left over for the next day, to ensure that there will be a surplus of wealth and food in the new year.
The fish should be placed in the center of the table, and the head should point toward the elders or the guests of honor. It is considered bad luck to flip the fish over, as it implies that a boat will capsize.
Noodles ā Luck & Money
Noodles are a must-have dish on New Yearās Eve, as they signify longevity and happiness. They should be cooked whole and not cut, as cutting them would mean cutting oneās life short. The longer the noodles, the better.
Cake ā Fortune
Cake is a sweet treat that everyone loves, and itās also a lucky food for the new year. Eating cake on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you sweetness and joy in the new year. You can choose any kind of cake you like, from chocolate to vanilla to fruit, as long as itās moist and fluffy. Some cakes have special meanings, such as ring-shaped cakes that symbolize completeness or cakes with hidden coins or charms that signify fortune.
Pomegranate – Fertility
Pomegranate is a fruit that has many seeds inside, which represent fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Eating pomegranate on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and wealth in the new year. You can eat the seeds raw or sprinkle them on salads, desserts, or drinks for a burst of flavor and color.
Cornbread ā Money
Cornbread is a bread that is made with cornmeal, which gives it a yellow color that resembles gold. Eating cornbread on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and money in the new year. You can make cornbread with butter, honey, cheese, or jalapeƱos for a savory or sweet twist.
Black-eyed peas ā Good Luck
Black-eyed peas are legumes that have a black spot on them, which looks like an eye. Eating black-eyed peas on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and protection in the new year. You can cook black-eyed peas with ham hocks, onions, garlic, and spices for a hearty and flavorful dish.
Oranges ā Hope & Prosperity
Oranges are citrus fruits that have a bright orange color that resembles the sun. Eating oranges on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and energy in the new year. You can eat oranges fresh or squeeze them into juice for a refreshing drink.
Champagne – Happiness
Champagne is a sparkling wine that is often used to toast and celebrate special occasions. Drinking champagne on New Yearās Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and happiness in the new year. You can drink champagne plain or mix it with orange juice for a mimosa or with cranberry juice for a kir royale.
From fish to lotus root, Chinese people eat specific foods for Lunar New Year to bring us a good year ahead, Hong Kong chef Fong Wah-yat says.(Kin Cheung, AP)
Foods to AVOID on Chinese New Yearās Day 2024
Some foods are believed to bring good fortune in the new year, but others may have the opposite effect. Here are some foods that you should avoid eating on New Yearās Eve or Day, according to various traditions and superstitions:
Ā· Seafood that moves sideways or backwards, such as crab, shrimp, and lobster. This may symbolize a lack of progress or a reversal of fortune.
Ā· Fish that live on the bottom of the sea, such as catfish and halibut. This may indicate a low or poor status in life.
Ā· Poultry that scratches the ground backwards, such as chicken and turkey. This may suggest dwelling on the past or losing what you have gained.
Ā· Bread that has a large hole in the middle. This may signify emptiness or misfortune.
Ā· White foods that are associated with death in some cultures, such as eggs, rice, and white cheeses. This may imply mourning or bad luck.
Conclusion
To sum up,Ā Chinese New Yearās EveĀ is a time of celebration and tradition, but also of culinary superstitions. Many foods are eaten or avoided for their symbolic meanings, such as luck, prosperity, longevity, or warding off evil. Whether you believe in these superstitions or not, you can enjoy the rich andĀ diverse cuisine of China and learn more about its culture and history.Ā Happy New Year!
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