Why Do People Eat Chinese Food On New Years Eve?
During the Chinese New Year, there are certain meals that are eaten because of the symbolism behind them. During the 16-day festival season, lucky food is provided, particularly during the Chinese New Year supper on New Year’s Eve. This is because it is thought that eating such cuisine will bring the diner good fortune in the year to come.
The traditional Chinese New Year dishes all have fortunate meanings that are derived from either their pronunciations or their appearances. Not only are the foods themselves important, but also the preparation, as well as the methods in which they are served and eaten, are very significant. Dumplings, seafood, spring rolls, and niangao are among the most typical dishes served during the Chinese New Year holiday.
We have compiled a list of the seven most important foods that are traditionally eaten during the Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year.
What do Chinese eat for new year?
As the first of February ushers in the Year of the Tiger, it is time to begin planning what dishes you will eat to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Celebrations of the new year take place at the start of each new lunar calendar in countries and cultures as diverse as China, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
- The holiday is a time for gathering, and during this time, members of the family will travel from near and far to meet one another and share their best wishes for the next year.
- Noodles representing longevity, entire fish cooked to represent abundance, sticky rice balls representing unity, and other delicacies are among the traditional cuisines served during the Lunar New Year celebration.
Some of these fortunate meals, along with other traditional delicacies such as rice cakes and dumplings, are listed below for your convenience. These dishes are likely to bring you good fortune and abundant riches in the year to come, regardless of whether you will be celebrating the New Year with friends and family or on your lonesome.
What should you not eat on Chinese New Year?
When it comes to the Lunar New Year, the Chinese place a lot of importance on the food they eat. Some foods are considered fortunate, while others are thought to be unfortunate. On the basis of several long-standing beliefs, the following is a list of foods that you should steer clear of.
- You’ve probably heard of many of the Chinese New Year taboos and superstitions that are practiced in normal Chinese households.
- Some of these traditions date back thousands of years.
- I was raised in one, so I am familiar with some of the taboos and superstitions that are associated with it, such as not cleaning the floor on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
It is possible that if you do this, you may lose all of the good fortune and luck you have accumulated for the New Year. It is also against the rules to have a haircut since it may give the impression that all of your good luck has been washed away, and as a result, there will be very few prospects for prosperity over the whole year.
In light of this, what kinds of things can we look forward to experiencing success with during the Chinese New Year? Because in Chinese culture the color red is associated with a wealth of good fortune, longevity, happiness, and vigor, it plays a significant role in the celebrations that take place at this time of year.
As for the cuisine, the following is a list of foods that are said to bring bad luck and should be avoided during the reunion meal and the Chinese New Year celebrations. Chicken is the most prevalent dish that should be avoided on Chinese New Year since it is regarded to bring bad luck due to the fact that chickens scratch their feathers in the opposite direction of how humans do.
It gives the impression that you are dwelling on the past and are struggling to make ends meet in your life. Lobsters are another delicacy that are said to bring bad luck during the Chinese New Year and should be avoided. This is because they swim in the opposite direction, which is an indication that there will most certainly be issues in the year to come.
White foods, including eggs, tofu, and white cheeses, are considered unlucky since the color white is associated with death. As a result, no items that are white in color are permitted during this time. When it comes to breakfast, the Chinese do not consume porridge at this time since they believe it to be a sign of poverty.
- Eeping in mind that, according to one of the Chinese superstitions, longevity noodles represent a long life, it is imperative that these noodles not be chopped in any way.
- People fear that chopping up the noodles will limit their life span.
- It is also important to refrain from taking any medication, as doing so increases the risk of being unwell for the whole year.
Last but not least, if you consume absolutely everything that is presented to you, you will have very little left over by the end of the year. Maintain a cushion of extra food at home at all times to ensure that you and your loved ones never go hungry.
What do Filipinos eat for Chinese New Year?
TIKOY. In the Philippines, celebrating the Lunar New Year with tikoy, which is similar to how other countries celebrate Chinese New Year with nian gao cake, is the most popular way to celebrate the holiday. In point of fact, the nian gao of southern China, from where Fukienese immigration to the Philippines originated, is supposed to have been the inspiration for tikoy.