Let us explore what food is eaten when celebrations for the New Year is going on in China. During this season the menu is quite special and different, so it seems.
The Chinese people are very serious about their food. This seriousness grows manifolds when it comes to New Year's celebrations because food is an important part of the entire festive season. Given that the Chinese attach so much importance to food the fact that food occupies a central place in New Year celebrations comes as no big surprise.
The food offered during the Chinese New Year season is no ordinary food. Rather it is considered to be lucky food which is served for the duration of the first two weeks of the New Year. The serving of the food is also termed as the spring festival because that is around when the Chinese New Year falls according to the lunar calendar.
There is representation in everything when it comes to China hence New Year's cuisine is no exception. A full chicken for instance is a classic Chinese New Year item that symbolizes family togetherness. Then there are other traditional food items that are served during this time of the year because of the symbolism that they have.
There is no doubt that the New Year's season's feasting involves the serving of noodles which is a mandatory tradition in China. It is the symbol that assures a long life. The Chinese believe that noodles that are cut bring bad luck so they generally offer uncut noodles.
Clams and spring rolls are other food items that are offered during this New Year celebration. They are quite delicious with a moith watering taste and also they symbolize prosperity. The clams derive their symbolism from their bouillon shape and spring rolls derive it from their gold bar shape.
Another approach to choose the right kind of food is to focus on the phonetics the word. Take the word 'lettuce', when said in the Chinese language it sounds like the fortune is growing. The Chinese people use lettuce to wrap fortune food items to be served on the occasion of the New Year.
Some fruits are also considered as fortunate item served during the New Year spring season and its available in abundance at this time of the year. The most important ones are oranges and tangerines. When they are pronounced in Chinese they have the sound of wealth and luck and hence that proves why they are selected. Another fruit type that is selected is the grapefruit as it signifies abundance and is the classic fruit symbol of the New Year.
Fish phonetically sounds like as if someone said wish and thus according to the Chinese people, it signifies abundance. As the tradition goes, the meal in New Years Eve always finishes with the eating of fish. The fish is served whole to signify togetherness.
Sweets and steamed cakes like sticky rice cakes are also served during the New Year time and message that it shares is that people can seek for good things to come with the advancement of a New Year.
The Chinese people are very serious about their food. This seriousness grows manifolds when it comes to New Year's celebrations because food is an important part of the entire festive season. Given that the Chinese attach so much importance to food the fact that food occupies a central place in New Year celebrations comes as no big surprise.
The food offered during the Chinese New Year season is no ordinary food. Rather it is considered to be lucky food which is served for the duration of the first two weeks of the New Year. The serving of the food is also termed as the spring festival because that is around when the Chinese New Year falls according to the lunar calendar.
There is representation in everything when it comes to China hence New Year's cuisine is no exception. A full chicken for instance is a classic Chinese New Year item that symbolizes family togetherness. Then there are other traditional food items that are served during this time of the year because of the symbolism that they have.
There is no doubt that the New Year's season's feasting involves the serving of noodles which is a mandatory tradition in China. It is the symbol that assures a long life. The Chinese believe that noodles that are cut bring bad luck so they generally offer uncut noodles.
Clams and spring rolls are other food items that are offered during this New Year celebration. They are quite delicious with a moith watering taste and also they symbolize prosperity. The clams derive their symbolism from their bouillon shape and spring rolls derive it from their gold bar shape.
Another approach to choose the right kind of food is to focus on the phonetics the word. Take the word 'lettuce', when said in the Chinese language it sounds like the fortune is growing. The Chinese people use lettuce to wrap fortune food items to be served on the occasion of the New Year.
Some fruits are also considered as fortunate item served during the New Year spring season and its available in abundance at this time of the year. The most important ones are oranges and tangerines. When they are pronounced in Chinese they have the sound of wealth and luck and hence that proves why they are selected. Another fruit type that is selected is the grapefruit as it signifies abundance and is the classic fruit symbol of the New Year.
Fish phonetically sounds like as if someone said wish and thus according to the Chinese people, it signifies abundance. As the tradition goes, the meal in New Years Eve always finishes with the eating of fish. The fish is served whole to signify togetherness.
Sweets and steamed cakes like sticky rice cakes are also served during the New Year time and message that it shares is that people can seek for good things to come with the advancement of a New Year.
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The Chinese zodiac is an important part of the celebrations. If you would like to read further on Chinese new year dishes click on the hyperlinks.
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