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Learn the symbolism and recipes of 12 traditional dishes eaten during the Chinese New Year festival, especially on New Year's Eve. Find out how fish, dumplings, chicken, cake, and more bring good luck and prosperity for the Year of Dragon 2024.
Learn how to celebrate the Lunar New Year with traditional Chinese food traditions and recipes. Find appetizers, meat and poultry dishes, seafood, side dishes, and desserts for the holiday. Organized by categories and easy to follow.
- Dumplings. Resembling coin purses, dumplings are said to bring wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture. Traditionally filled with a mixture of meat, tofu, egg, and/or vegetables, dumplings are a staple of Chinese cuisine and a must-have at every Lunar New Year table.
- Spring rolls. The crisp, golden shell of the fried egg roll symbolizes gold, and is meant to bring wealth and prosperity to those who eat them. Spring rolls are so popular on Lunar New Year that their name actually comes from one of the holiday’s titles — The Spring Festival.
- Tang Yuan. The shape and pronunciation of this traditional Chinese dessert symbolize unity, both with your romantic partner, and with your family. There is even a lucky saying that is traditionally expressed when eating this treat: “Tuántuán yuányuán,” which means, “Happy family reunion!”
- Bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoots are a traditional Chinese dish and are commonly enjoyed on the holiday. They symbolize well wishes and wealth. Bamboo shoots can be cooked in a variety of ways and are often prepared and served as a vegetable component in many dishes.
Jan 1, 2024 · Learn about the symbolic and cultural meanings of 22 foods that are eaten during the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, in different regions of China. From dumplings and fish to sticky rice cakes and tangyuan, discover the recipes, videos, and tips for celebrating the Spring Festival.
- Fiona Reilly
- Jiaozi (Dumplings) In winter, a steaming cauldron of boiling water sits on every stove, ready to cook jiaozi at a moment's notice. Today, making dumplings together at Chinese New Year is a tradition shared by almost every Chinese family around the world, but the practice has its roots in China's north, where the wheat used in the tender dumpling skins (jiaozi pi) was once a more commonplace staple than rice.
- Dayu Darou (Whole Fish or Meat) The Lunar New Year meal will almost always include dayu darou—literally "big fish and big meat." The phrase is used to describe any lavish feast where animal proteins play a central role, as opposed to day-to-day eating, in which meat and seafood are used much more sparingly.
- Lawei (Cured Meats) In the winter streets all over China, flayed giant fish, ducks, and skeins of Chinese sausage hang from racks and poles, drying and curing in preparation for Chinese New Year, and echoing ancient sacrifices that took place in the dying days of the year after winter solstice.
- Chun Juan (Spring Rolls) Spring rolls (chun juan) take their name from the holiday for which they're traditionally prepared: the Spring Festival (chunjie), also known as Chinese New Year.
Jan 4, 2023 · Learn about the history and meaning of 14 traditional foods that are eaten during the Chinese New Year, such as dumplings, cake, fish, and spring rolls. Discover how to make them, where to find them, and what to avoid during this celebratory season.
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Jan 3, 2023 · Learn the meanings and origins of various dishes that are served during the Chinese New Year season, from spring rolls and dumplings to Peking duck and sweet and sour pork. Discover how to make these lucky foods delicious and representative of Chinese culture at one of the highlight moments of its yearly traditions.
