Festivities included a big family feast with traditional Chinese dishes. Food is such an integral part of the Chinese culture, that it is no wonder many of the types of foods eaten holds a special meaning. Below are some of the dishes and what they symbolize:
- Fish is typically served since it symbolizes prosperity. Consuming it durng this time means that it will help you achieve what you want in the coming year.
- Chicken is popular during Chinese New Year since it symbolizes a happy household.
- Tangerines, Oranges, and/or Pomelos represent luck, wealth, and abundance
- Sticky Rice Cake (nian gao) is a very traditional dessert during this time of year because the round shape represents family togetherness, height and layers symbolizes continued abundance, and the sweet flavor stands for a rich and sweet life.
- Other dishes eaten during this time are noodles for longevity and chinese dumpling to represent continued prosperity (dumplings are believed to look like silver ingots).