Introduction:

The event held in China and numerous other places across the world as Chinese New Year (CNY) or the Spring Festival is by far the most important for the Chinese population. Traditional food lovers shaping up for the year of the ox in 2021 will definitely be treated to a sumptuous banquet of good food, most of which are symbolic of prosperity, health and longevity. Do you know which treat has which story, which symbolizes such and such? In this article, please allow us to provide you with more understanding on the cultural importance of the paramount CNY necessity and why they are such a big deal.

1. Nian Gao

Nian Gao is another sweet appetizer prepared from glutinous rice flour and should be made and eaten during the Chinese New Year. The name Nian Gao literally means “higher year” or “year high” which is hoped to be a sign for a better year with greater success. Its stickiness symbolizes the human togetherness and the various units of a close-knit community during the celebration. Besides, consuming Nian Gao is also associated with the likelihood of achieving success in every New Year.

2. Pineapple Tarts

Pineapple Tarts or known as the Feng Lin Su means a good product produced in Malaysia, consist of buttery pastry and pineapple jam. This delightful delicacy is associated with good luck as the pine both represents luck and welcome guests. Since eateries are considered a Chinese value, offering pineapple tarts to the guests during CNY assures abundant and good hospitality and blesses them.

3. The next food that we will look at is Ang Ku Kueh which translates to red turtle cake in Chinese it is very specific in color and shape and is a traditional item originating from China.

One of the popular dessert is Ang Ku Kueh, a delicate thin reddish layer of rice flour skin encasing savoury or sweet stuffings; this cliché dessert has an interesting tale associated with it. The Chinese term “Ang” (红) means red which symbolizes happiness and prosperity and the term “Ku Kueh” (龟粿) looks like a tortoise. For instance, in the ancient world people some used tortoise shell to for fortune telling and the color red was associated with this because the tortoise shell is divided between black and red. Ang Ku Kueh convey blessings of prosperity, longevity and fortune to the family who consumes it.

4. Love Letters

Love Letters otherwise referred to as Egg tarts are pastries made from flour, butter, sugar, eggs and milk which when baked to perfection yield delightfully flaky crusts with a creamy rich custard filling. Due to their very slim and rectangular looks, these pastries are said to be named after love letters from China. Because of their name, the cookies represent happy words which include love, blessings that are often shared between couples, friends and family members in the course of celebrating CNY.

5. Lotus Seed Popsicles

Sweet lotus seed paste is the main ingredient of cold food Lotus Seed Popsicles which is wrapped in bean curd skin. This cool dessert is said to represent togetherness since the lotus seeds, the skin, and the shape of the pods stands for the essence of a healthy and strong family. Further, b Raymond Lee ‘s analysis The colour of the dessert reflects the happy mood which is also indicated by the Helmholtzian smoothness.

6. Glutinous Rice Dumplings

Chinese New Year treats retains many traditional foods and among them are Sticky Rice Dumplings also called Glutinous Rice Dumplings or Steamed Rice Dumplings. For the dumplings there is sweet sticky rice, mung beans, peanuts and sundry dried fruits and for the outer layer, a soft dough exists. The meaning of this treat is reunion and gathering together of families, which comes out most vividly through the preparation of dumplings during that period.

7. Peach Blossoms

Tao Sui or Peach Blossom Pastries are thin, fragile, crisp, and have a sweet taste and resemble the petals of a peach blossom flower. In this case, this particular tret signifies youth, beauty and, hence wealth. The peach blossom flower also symbolically connected with ju-i, the Peach Blossom Land legend of the place where people are happy and peaceful dwell. Consuming Peach Blossom Pastriesfood during CNY ensures one attracts blessings of love and relationship luck.

8. Rice Dumplings in Lotus Leaf

Rice Dumplings in Lotus Leaf is made from rice, pork, mushrooms, and fried dried shrimp wrapped in lotus leaves and steam-cooked. The lotus leaf as a decorative, compound symbolizes wealth and richness because of the lotus flower, rice meaning a full life as Tibetan culture understands it. This dish is packed with longevity and good fortunes as the greens and the rice are combined as they come. As P-Co has mentioned, this dish symbolizes prosperity and a fulfilling life so eating this dish with family and friends during CNY brings everyone joy.

9. Jellyfish

Jellyfish is a customary CNY dish which has been consumed for generations with the main symbolic meanings associated with luck, wealth, and longevity. The slim, elongated structures of the appendages resemble longevity, as well as happiness and prosperity that Chinese people expect to have. Eating jellyfish during the CNY is believed to be lucky and hence, protect against any form of disappointment; jellyfish are said to be devoid of stinging ability and hence are capable of chasing out evil spirits.

Conclusion:

With Chinese New Year just two weeks away, it's time to prepare for celebrations filled with family reunions, joyful gatherings, and delicious meals shared with loved ones. Each of these traditional CNY goodies carries a unique story and symbolic meaning, deeply connected to China's history and rich cultural traditions. Passed down through generations, these treats aren't just delights for the taste buds; they're a way of preserving and nurturing culture. Enjoying these special foods during CNY is about more than indulging – it's a way to honor heritage and celebrate a culturally meaningful holiday. This year, as you savor these delicious CNY goodies, remember the messages behind them – from prosperity and abundance to longevity and harmony. These treats are more than festive foods; they're symbols of the hopes and blessings for the New Year.