Food always takes centre stage during important occasions and of course, Chinese New Year is no different. The ingredients eaten during the festivities also have symbolic significance.
- Bamboo shoots - wealth
- Black moss seaweed - wealth
- Dried Bean Curd - happiness (note: fresh tofu is not served because the colour white symbolises death and misfortune in Chinese culture).
- Chicken - happiness and marriage (especially when served with "dragon foods," such as lobster. Family reunion (if served whole)
- Eggs - fertility
- Egg Rolls - wealth
- Fish served whole - prosperity
- Chinese garlic chives - everlasting, a long life
- Lychee nuts - close family ties
- Noodles - A long life
- Oranges - wealth
- Peanuts - a long life
- Pomelo - abundance, prosperity, having children
- Seeds - lotus seeds, watermelon seeds, etc. - having a large number of children
- Tangerines - luck
I stopped off at the Chinese bakery on the way home from work to pick up some dainty little peanut cookies- salty and sweet at the same time they just melt in your mouth - and if they make me live a long life, it would be silly to refuse them.
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