Chinese New Year Food: The Basics
Posted by gourmet coffee snob on 23 Nov 2009 | Tagged as: Coffee, Coffee Tips, Health
When ringing in the new year in traditional Chinese fashion, you have to consider the importance of < href=”http://www.absolutelyfengshui.com/others/chinese-new-year-food.php”>Chinese New Year food as well. Food plays a huge part in such celebrations. The Chinese New Year is a particularly special one. It is one of the most important Chinese holidays. Sometimes called the Spring Festival, sometimes called the Lunar New Year, it takes place on the first day of the first lunar month, as denoted by the Chinese calendar. It ends on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.
The entire celebration is special and the food served is central to it. In most of not all cases, it serves as symbolism. Mainly, people serve foods which can help to bring luck and fortune in the coming year. They are served for the entire span of the celebration.
One traditional food which may surprise you is chicken – but not just any chicken. Generally whole chickens are served. This is because an entire chicken symbolizes togetherness within the family. Serving one means that the family will be together and happy for the < href=”http://www.absolutelyfengshui.com/dateselection/chinese-new-year-dates.php”>coming year.
Another food item that is served during the Chinese New Year is noodles. Now, noodles are popular in Chinese culture in general, but there is a story behind the noodle. Noodles in Chinese culture can sometimes symbolize a long life line, so serving noodles at Chinese New Year is definitely a great idea. Whether you are serving noodle soup, a noodle side or anything else that has noodles in it, serving noodles for this fabulous holiday is a very traditional and great way to bring in the new year.
Sometimes, foods are used because of the way the Chinese words for them sound. For example, the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like the word for fortune, so lettuce is served. Tangerines and oranges are served because the Chinese words for them sound like the words for luck and wealth. So, a good itself does not necessarily have to be lucky. If it is somehow associated with luck, that is just as beneficial.
Fish is definitely one of the Chinese New Year foods that every single celebration has, one reason is the word ‘yu’ that usually symbolizes wish or abundance. It has been said that many people serve fish at their New Year celebrations because if the head and tail of the fish are still attached, the year will begin and end on a good note.
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