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Traditional New Year Foods
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Probably more food
is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other time of the year. Vast amounts of traditional food is prepared for family and
friends, as well as those close to us who have died.
On New Year's Day, the Chinese family will eat a
vegetarian dish called jai. Although the various ingredients in jai are root
vegetables or fibrous vegetables, many people attribute various superstitious
aspects to them:
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* Lotus seed - signify having many male offspring * Ginkgo nut - represents silver ingots * Black moss seaweed - is a homonym for exceeding in
wealth * Dried bean curd is another homonym for fulfillment of wealth and happiness * Bamboo shoots - is a term which sounds like
"wishing that everything would be well" * Fresh bean curd or tofu is not included as it is
white and unlucky for New Year as the color
signifies death and misfortune. |
Other foods
include a whole fish, to represent togetherness and abundance, and a chicken
for prosperity. The chicken must be presented with a head, tail and feet to
symbolize completeness. Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.