Chinese New Year Foods Symbolising Abundance

Since my recent interest centers around writing about attracting abundance, I thought I would write a piece on foods that symbolises prosperity, with the Chinese New Year just round the corner.

Chinese New Year begins on Feb 7 this year and lasts for a period of 15 days. As a Chinese, I've grown up with having to observe several traditions passed down since generations ago. The Chinese are known to like words that represent good things in life. My grandparents when they were alive, would encourage us to use words that would usher in good outcomes for the year. They would immediately frown when we accidentally used a word with a negative connoctation.

Tradition has it that family members unite during this time, over extravagant feasts. The family reunion dinner takes place on the eve of Chinese New Year. It is an important event because it symbolises togetherness. So no excuses are usually allowed for missing this event. Many people who are based overseas, will also have to travel home, so as not to miss out on the family reunion dinner.

Nearly every ingredient used in each dish for this dinner, has its meaning in good wishes like luck, prosperity and success, due to its similar sound in the Chinese language.

For instance, ingredients like hoe see fat choy, hair seaweed (fat choy) with dried oysters (ho see) sounds like "wealth and good business" and lotus roots (lin ngau) mean abundance year after year. Eating these ingredients ensure that you reap good benefits for a whole year ahead. An even number of courses, such as 8, 10 or 12, are served during the family reunion dinner because multiples of two indicate "shuang" or double happiness and fortune.

Fish or "yue" symbolises abundance and excess. The phrase to wish each other "nian nian you yue" means excess every year. You should also not eat the fish fully because this is taken to mean that the family will always have more than enough. To guarantee continuous good fortune, it is important that the fish not be broken during or after cooking. Fish paste rolled into balls or fish balls (yu-yuan) is a particular favorite due to "abundance" and "togetherness".

Abalone, a prized delicacy, is also a favorite at this time. It is pronounced as "bao yu" which also means the assurance of a surplus. Businessmen particularly favor this food and do not mind shelling out hundreds of dollars for the best grade.

Vegetables embody the freshness of "evergreen". Out of all the vegetables, a must-have is the lettuce, or "sang choi". It symbolizes prosperity because its Chinese name sounds similar to "bring about wealth and riches." Another vegetable that my mother insist upon having is the Chinese leek or da suan. It represents "big counting" and is often combined with other foods for greater impact. For instance, if it is mixed with prawns (or har), it means that "counting with laughter". If mixed with "cuttlefish" or yu yu it means "counting continual abundance".

Most of the food items are to be served whole. For instance, chickens are presented with head and feet, and leafy greens are not chopped. This is to ensure that luck and success are complete and whole. It will be bad luck to chop any parts off!

Long noodles represent long life. Hence it is preferred that you do not cut the noodles no matter how long they come in. "Hao," or oysters, sounds like the word for "an auspicious occasion or event" and symbolize receptivity to good fortune.

Dumplings, a treat for the children and adults alike, also represent wealth. These are usually stuffed of ingredients so that they are fat and full. They are made into the shape that look like the golden ingots yuan bao used during the Ming Dynasty for money. Hence, the more dumplings you eat, the more you should benefit from wealth and prosperity!

Or, you can also choose to eat spring rolls instead. They are shaped like gold bars and stuffed with ingredients like prawns (which means laughther due to "ha" sound) and turnip ("good luck").

One serving of rice is not enough. After you finish with the first, you have to go to "tian fan". This means to add rice, symbolising that you will always have abundant food to eat.

On the first day of the Chinese New Year, tangerines and oranges are exchanged when families visit each other. Their Chinese names sound like "gold" and "wealth". Red packets with money are also given to the children, with wishes of wealth and prosperity.

An assortment of treats are served in an octagonal tray when families go to each household. The "8" sides of the tray also means "fatt" or prosperity in Cantonese. The tray usually contains sweetened lotus roots (representing abundance), sweetened lotus seeds (suggesting fertility), dried melon seeds (representing profuse earnings), and all kinds of candies (representing sweetness).

It is hard not to feel abundant and prosperous after so much feasting and the exchange of well wishes.

You can throw out your diet plan, as it will be hard to resist all the temptations, with the festivities still on. Sticking with your strict diet plan will be unwise if you want to have all the nice things to happen to you.

During this period, everyone is in good spirits and in positive thoughts. Conflicts are set aside and family togetherness is emphasized. You feel anchored in love and support from your close ones.

Minus the bloated tummy, may the feeling of abundance, luck, togetherness and success last throughout the year and into the next!