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Top 10 Lucky Foods
in Chinese New Year
Chinese love being "fortuned", and so do their dishes.
.As the Lunar New Year approaches, many eagerly anticipate reuniting with family for a festive feast on New Year’s Eve. With a dazzling array of banquet dishes, the question arises: Which dishes should you include, and how do you decide what to order? Let Lingoclass take you through the top picks for New Year’s dishes, as hotly debated by netizens!
Top 8 Lucky Foods for Chinese New Year and What They Symbolize
1. Dumplings (水饺/Shuǐ Jiǎo)
"The more you eat, the more you earn"
Dumplings are often shaped like gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. Some people even hide a coin in the filling, and whoever finds it is said to be in for a year of great fortune and riches.
Dumplings are considered an essential dish for the Chinese New Year by many. With their gold ingot-like shape, they represent the wish for financial success and prosperity. So, every year, delicious dumplings are served as a festive dish, carrying wishes of joy and good luck.
When it comes to enjoying dumplings during the New Year, many Chinese share their unique ways of eating them. One example is the "1 yuan dumpling," known as "Yuanbao" (gold ingot). If someone finds a coin inside, it’s a sign that they may have a prosperous year ahead, as they say, "Dumplings are tasty and fun!" Let’s make sure the new year brings even more ways to earn!
2. Longevity Greens (长年菜/Cháng Nián Cài)
"Wish you a long long life"
longevity greens? When the Lunar New Year rolls around, families feast on dishes ranging from hearty meats to fresh vegetables. Among them, mustard greens—known for their slightly bitter taste—are a staple, symbolizing longevity and the wish for a long and healthy life. This dish is significant when served to elders, offering blessings for their good health. Tradition holds that you shouldn’t cut or bite the greens into pieces while cooking or eating them, as their unbroken form represents an unbroken, long life. Instead, the entire plant—roots, leaves, and all—is steamed or boiled whole. To honour this tradition, diners eat it as is, without cutting, to carry on the symbolic meaning. If there are children in the family, smaller spinach plants might be served, with some families even opting for red-stemmed spinach to add a festive touch of red for good fortune.
3. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall (佛跳牆/fó tiào qiáng)
"A Feast of Fortune"
When it comes to Lunar New Year dishes, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall has reigned supreme in discussions over the past year. Packed with an impressive variety of ingredients, this dish isn’t just a culinary delight—it’s a symbol of prosperity and wealth for the year ahead. One enthusiastic foodie declared, "If I could only pick one must-have dish for the New Year, it’s Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. It’s got everything—loads of ingredients and flavours! Plus, you can keep adding new things to the broth and enjoy it from New Year’s Eve to the first day back at work!"Its richness satisfies the appetite and makes it a bit like a hotpot—perfect for reusing the flavorful soup base with your favourite add-ins. No wonder many agree: Buddha Jumps Over the Wall is an absolute must-have for the festive season!
4. Pork Knuckles (猪脚/zhū jiǎo)
Needing some luck and longevity? Why not get both?
Another beloved Lunar New Year tradition is feasting on pork knuckles. As the saying goes, “Eating pork knuckles brings luck and long life, and eating the trotter fills your coffers,” making this dish a popular choice for festive family gatherings.On such a joyous occasion, sharing a hearty dish of pork knuckles with loved ones symbolizes a prosperous year ahead, with financial stability and abundant blessings for the entire family. Packed with flavour and auspicious meaning, pork knuckles have earned their reputation as a “must-eat for good fortune” among many netizens. Who could resist such a delicious way to kickstart a lucky new year?
5. Radish Cake (年糕/nián gāo)
A Taste of Rising Fortunes
In Chinese, the word for cake (糕) sounds just like the word for high (高), making turnip cake a symbol of rising to greater heights. Made by steaming grated turnip blended with rice flour, turnip cake is a New Year’s staple for many families. It’s often customized with favourite ingredients, creating a one-of-a-kind homemade treat bursting with “the taste of home.”This delightful dish isn’t just delicious—it carries the hope of climbing to new levels of success and happiness in the year ahead. No wonder it’s such a cherished part of Lunar New Year traditions!
6. Fish (鱼/yú)
A Symbol of Abundance
No Lunar New Year feast is complete without fish, as its pronunciation in Chinese is similar to the word for surplus (餘). This makes fish a powerful symbol of "having plenty year after year."However, tradition dictates that you shouldn’t finish the fish on New Year's Eve. Leaving some behind signifies that you’ll carry abundance into the coming year, ensuring no shortage of food, wealth, or good fortune. It’s not just a dish—it’s a delicious reminder of prosperity!
7. Fa Gao (发糕/fā gāo)
A Blooming Sign of Prosperity
Like New Year’s cake, fa gao (steamed rice cake) is a traditional must-have during Lunar New Year. The word “fa” symbolizes wealth and prosperity, while the cake’s flower-like shape and the wide cracks in its top represent blossoming fortune. The bigger and more open the “petals” on the cake, the greater the wealth and success it’s believed to bring in the year ahead. Fa gao isn’t just a treat; it’s a beautifully symbolic bite of good luck!
8. Orange (橘子/jú zi)
"A Wish for Luck and Prosperity"
Lunar New Year coincides with the peak orange season, making these bright, juicy fruits a festive favourite. Known as "juzi" in Chinese, oranges symbolize good fortune thanks to their name’s similarity to the word for luck. Their round shape represents family unity, while their golden hue is reminiscent of wealth and treasure. With such auspicious meanings, oranges are a must-have during the New Year celebrations—a simple, delicious way to bring in prosperity and joy!
9. Shrimp (虾子/xiā zi)
"A Symbol of Longevity and Vitality"
Prawns are a popular New Year dish, representing longevity and vitality. Their vibrant red colour when cooked is cheerful and auspicious, making them a festive favourite. In Japanese culture, prawns are associated with old age and wisdom—their long antennae and curved shape resemble an elderly person’s bent back, symbolizing the wish to live a long life, "until your back bends like a prawn."Another interpretation ties prawns to energy and liveliness. Eating prawns during the New Year is a hope to stay as “active and full of life” as these jumping crustaceans. Either way, prawns bring both flavour and fortune to the table!
10. Hot pot (火锅/huǒ guō)
"The Ultimate Family Reunion Dish"
What better way to celebrate the Lunar New Year than with a hot pot? Gathering around a bubbling pot of goodness feels like a traditional reunion feast. The round shape of meatballs and other goodies simmering inside symbolizes togetherness and unity. Sharing hot pot during the New Year is more than just a meal—it’s a warm, delicious way to represent family harmony and reunion. So grab your chopsticks and dig in—because nothing says togetherness quite like hot pot!
Immerse Yourself in the Real Chinese Cuisine!
Lucky Chinese New Year Foods You Can Make #AtHome | Marion’s Kitchen
If you want to experience this cultural richness, why not start with a taste of tradition right here in London's Chinatown? From dishes symbolizing prosperity, like steamed fish and dumplings, to sweets like fa gao for luck, and the lively energy of hot pot gatherings symbolizing family unity, these culinary delights offer a delicious way to embrace Chinese New Year customs. Dive into these flavorful traditions and discover how food brings good fortune and unforgettable experiences!
