DENPASAR, BALIPOST.com – Chinese New Year is an important celebration for Chinese people around the world. Besides being decorated with various traditions such as giving angpao, lion dance dances, and joint prayers, typical dishes are also the main elements that have never been missed for sure.
Do you know, every food served during Chinese New Year celebrations has a deep symbolic meaning, reflecting hopes for happiness, prosperity, and luck in the new year. Here are 8 dishes that are served during Chinese New Year celebrations and the meaning contained, extended from various sources:
1. Basket cake
Basket cake or often known as Chinese Nian Gao, is a sweet dish made from glutinous rice flour and sugar. Cakes that are round and have a sticky texture, which symbolizes family unity and close relationships among its members.
In addition, if you compose a multilevel basket cake at the prayer table, it can symbolize the hope of increasing sustenance, prosperity, and success from year to year.
2. Longevity Noodles
Long life noodles or often known as Siu Mie, become one of the required dishes at the Chinese New Year celebration. This noodle has a characteristic in the form of its length that is not cut during Chinese New Year. The length of the noodles symbolizes longevity, health, happiness, and permanence.
In tradition, when eating siu noodles, noodles should not be cut or decided with teeth. This is done to maintain long life symbolism.
3. Yu Sheng
It is a raw fish salad that is so popular in the Southeast Asian region, especially in the Chinese community in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. This dish is made from slices of fresh fish, carrots, turnips, ginger, and various sweet sauce.
When eating Yu Sheng all family members must be together to enjoy it using chopsticks, before eating it, it is required to lift it first as high as possible.
It is believed that if the higher it lifts it, the greater the luck that is believed to come in this new year. This dish symbolizes the hamb, luck, and harmony.
4. Mandarin oranges
This orange is the most often found fruit during Chinese New Year celebrations. With a bright orange color from oranges symbolizes gold, so it is considered to bring prosperity and wealth.
Citrus fruit is usually served in an even amount as a slow balance and harmony. In addition, some families also present this orange against relatives, neighbors or guests who are believed to be a symbol of sharing sustenance.
5. Bowl cake
Is a typical Chinese New Year made from rice flour and has a shape like a blooming flower. It is believed that this form of flower symbolizes fortune and luck.
Usually this cake is often called prosperity cake, because it is trusted for those who eat it will get a luck, especially if this cake has a lot of petals on it.
6. Steamed Fish
Whole fish is the main dish that is often served in dinner dinner celebrations. Which is where the whole fish symbolizes the hope for the abundance of fortune and luck throughout the year.
In addition, the serving of whole fish also has certain rules.
This fish must be served complete with the head and tail, because it symbolizes the beginning and ending that is so good in every aspect of life.
7. My cake
My cake is a traditional Chinese food that has a shape similar to a shell and bright red. Which is made from glutinous rice flour and filled with green beans, which symbolizes prosperity.
During the Chinese New Year celebration, this cake is made with a mold containing letters, pictures, or symbol of a luck.
8. Tea leaf eggs
Eggs that are soaked in a mixture of black tea and share spices, which make marble color effects and herbal flavors. Is one of the dishes during the Chinese New Year’s Eve celebration.
Although often used as snacks, these eggs can also be served as the main dish companion. This dish is believed to eat this egg during the Chinese New Year celebration can bring fertility to couples who are still trying to have children. (Ni Wayan Linayani/Balipost)
