Food and festivities share an enduring relationship, particularly when it comes to delicious foods. In just less than a month, Chinese New Year will be celebrated by 18% of the world's total population. As the world anticipates a major celebration boom, Chinese households are gearing up for grand feasts, preparing specific dishes believed to bring prosperity, good luck, wealth, and health.

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These dishes are symbols of auspiciousness and are served throughout the 15 days of celebration. Let's discover the most commonly served dishes:

Fishes

In Mandarin, the word for fish is yú, which sounds like a word for surplus or abundance, making it a symbol of wealth and prosperity. In Chinese culture, a whole fish is served with head and tail, symbolizing a good start and finish to the year.

Tangyuan

Tangyuan is small sweet and savory glutinous rice balls that are popularly eaten during the Lantern Festival. It is an important custom in Chinese culture to eat Tangyuan on this day, and people believe the round shape of the dish symbolizes togetherness.

Dumplings

Symbolizing Wealth and Prosperity – Dumplings, or "jiaozi," are another quintessential dish enjoyed during Chinese New Year. Similar to momo, these bite-sized parcels of deliciousness are thought to resemble ancient Chinese currency, symbolizing wealth and prosperity.

Niangao

"Niangao," or sticky rice cake, holds a special place in the hearts of those celebrating Chinese New Year. The pronunciation of "Niangao" is similar to the phrase "nian nian gao sheng," which means "higher year by year" – a wish for continuous growth, progress, and the promise of a better future.

Oranges and Tangerines

The vibrant hues of oranges and tangerines signify wealth and good luck. The Chinese words for orange and tangerine sound like "ji," which means lucky, and "cheng," which means wealth.

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls mark the arrival of the spring season as they are a delightful combination of vegetables, meat, and sometimes seafood. Enjoying spring rolls during this time is believed to invite good fortune and prosperity into one's life.

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