By MOOK Scenic Spots House, compiled and reported
Lunar New Year is full of things to watch out for, but if you want good fortune to come your way, even your food choices matter. These nine must-eat foods for the New Year aren’t just tasty and satisfying—they’re believed to attract wealth and luck!
Eat dumplings on the first day of the year to ensure a prosperous year ahead. (Photo / Hao Zhu Yi Noodle Restaurant)
1.Dumplings
Dumplings, also called jiaozi or yuanbao (Chinese ingots), have historically been eaten by people in northern China on New Year’s Eve and the first day of the year, symbolizing growing another year older and welcoming good fortune. Nowadays, eating dumplings on the first day of the New Year is a wish for wealth and good luck in the year to come.
2.Sweet glutinous rice balls
Wake up on the first day of the year and enjoy a warm bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls, symbolizing family unity, happiness, and a sweet life, as well as representing a beautiful new year ahead.
Oranges always play an important symbolic role during the Lunar New Year. (Photo / Unsplash)
3.Oranges
Oranges always carry important symbolism during the Lunar New Year, representing luck and good fortune, with the meaning of “great luck and prosperity.” That’s why you’ll often see tables filled with oranges when visiting relatives or gathering with others during New Year visits—their color is also very festive.
4.New Year cake
New Year cake, which sounds like “year high” (年高), symbolizes rising higher with each step. Also, the cake is cut into square shapes, resembling gold and silver, symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the new year.
3. Oranges Oranges always carry important symbolism during the Lunar New Year, representing luck and good fortune, with the meaning of “great luck and prosperity.” That’s why you’ll often see tables filled with oranges when visiting relatives or gathering with others during New Year visits—their color is also very festive. 4. New Year Cake New Year cake, which sounds like “year high” (年高), symbolizes rising higher with each step. Also, the cake is cut into square shapes, resembling gold and silver, symbolizing wealth and prosperity in the new year.
5.Pineapple
Pineapple has long symbolized good luck because its Taiwanese pronunciation sounds like “prosperity coming” (旺来), so eating pineapple is believed to bring booming good fortune.
6.Chicken soup
Having a bowl of steaming hot chicken soup during the holidays, especially with a chicken foot in it, not only brings health for the year but also symbolizes “grabbing wealth” for the new year.
Fish is an absolutely essential dish on the Lunar New Year table. (Photo / Unsplash)
7.Fish
Fish is a vital dish that can’t be missing from any Lunar New Year dinner table. It must be served but not finished, as leaving some symbolizes “having surplus every year (年年有余/鱼).”
8.Longevity greens
Longevity greens are a favorite among elders during the holiday feast, symbolizing a long and healthy life.
9.Radish
Radish, also known as caitou (菜头), symbolizes having good fortune. No matter how it’s cooked, make sure to eat some radish during the Lunar New Year to invite some good luck.
A comprehensive list of Lunar New Year taboos—ten things you must not do during the New Year
》https://www.mook.com.tw/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=19900