Lunar New Year food that will bring you good luck

8 lucky foods to eat for Lunar New Year—and why they’re good fortune

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You are what you eat—perhaps especially during the Lunar New Year.

By Joanne Kwong January 18, 2023

Table of Contents

You are what you eat—especially during Lunar New Year, one of the most important celebrations in many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese traditions. Starting this year on January 29th, 2025, the festival kicks off with Lunar New Year day and concludes with the vibrant Lantern Festival. It’s a time for family, good fortune, and delicious foods packed with symbolic meaning.

8 lucky foods for Lunar New Year and what they symbolize

1. Lunar New Year Dumplings

Who doesn’t love dumplings? Chock full of meat and vegetables, dumplings are considered lucky because of their resemblance to an ancient Chinese currency, the ingot. For extra luck, you might throw a date (a symbol of success) into the dumpling mix. Whomever receives the date-laden dumpling is said to have even more prosperity for the year.

2. Lunar New Year whole fish or chicken

A fish or chicken intact with head and tail symbolizes prosperity and wholeness as well as a good beginning and end to the upcoming year. In addition, the Chinese word for fish, yu, sounds like the word for “abundance.” While kids may balk at seeing a fish or chicken head, this is what food is! And I guarantee that after a year or two, they’ll be fighting for who gets the fish cheeks.

3. Shrimp

It’s no joke: the Cantonese word for shrimp sounds like laughter. That’s why it’s often included in Lunar New Year meals, embodying happiness and liveliness for the new year.

4. Long noodles

Be sure to eat long noodles for a long life! Noodles are a staple of Lunar New Year meals, symbolizing longevity and prosperity. There’s even a special type of noodle traditionally eaten during this celebration called longevity noodles. These noodles are longer than regular ones, uncut to preserve their symbolic meaning, and often stir-fried or served in soup. The act of eating longevity noodles is meant to bring a long, healthy life to the individual enjoying them.

5. Spring rolls

A healthier version of its decadent cousin, the egg roll, spring rolls, which symbolize wealth, might have gotten their name because they’re served during the Spring Festival. When fried to a golden brown, they resemble gold bars. Our three generations of family members love to sit around a table together during the new year and make, and then eat, a huge batch of spring rolls.

6. Lucky fruit

Oranges and tangerines are said to bring luck and prosperity for the New Year since their names in Chinese sound like “luck” and “wealth,” respectively. The presence of leaves is even better since the greenery represents longevity. Another fortunate Lunar New Year fruit is the pomelo (which in Chinese sounds like “to have again.”) To double your luck, have a tangelo, a cross between a tangerine and pomelo. Mounds of citrus on a beautiful dish alongside fresh flowers always decorate our home for the new year.

7. Tray of Togetherness – A traditional Lunar New Year snack tray

A round tray often with eight compartments (“eight” in Chinese sounds like “wealth”), each filled with candy, dried fruit, nuts, and other sweet tidbits to bring guests sweetness for the year. Typical Tray of Togetherness goodies include watermelon seeds, symbolizing fertility; candied coconut for family togetherness and unity; and candied ginger, for good health and longevity. Make sure you have a nibble of all eight to cross those lucky foods off your list!

8. Sticky rice cake

A glutinous rice cake made of sugar, water, and rice flour, nian gao, which translates as “year cake,” is a pun on “year high,” meaning rise to greater heights year after year. Nian, by the way, also sounds like the Chinese word for sticky. Nian gao is especially delicious when dipped in egg batter and fried–the outside is savory and crisp while the inside is warm, sweet and sticky. Delicious!

Whatever you choose to eat, gather with loved ones when you feast! And together you’ll start the new year with a full belly and lots of luck.

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Categories:

Food, Holidays