It's time to be well-versed with the auspicious meanings of the season
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Food for thought?
The best way to leave your relatives beaming with pride at your next Chinese New Year gathering, is to actually know the auspicious meanings behind the various festive foods.
Whether it's crunchy egg rolls or a full-fledged feast in the form of a pen cai, these items are backed by rich cultural traditions that have bestowed them with lucky symbolisms.
Eat your fill and luck out!
4. Fish for abundance and bountiful harvests
In Chinese culture, fish traditionally takes on various meanings. Its pronunciation ‘Yu’ refers to having more than simply basic needs. Villagers in southern China choose to consume only the middle section of the fish on the eve of Chinese New Year, leaving the head and tail to the next day to symbolize completeness. Most popular of all, is the blessing ‘Nian Nian You Yu’, a play on the Chinese word for fish, meaning a wish for surpluses and bountiful harvests each year.
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