Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is frequently referred to as ‘Chinese New Year’ or Chung Hei Fat Choi however it’s not only celebrated in China. The term ‘Lunar New Year’ is increasingly used to refer to festivals in other countries that take place at the same time and with many of the same traditions as in China.
The festival to celebrate the start of the new year of the lunar calendar is celebrated across the world in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian, and Indonesian communities. The festival is a time when family come together, often travelling from near and far to exchange well wishes and celebrate togetherness.
Traditional Lunar New Year foods include longevity noodles, spring rolls to symbolise wealth, a whole steamed fish for abundance, sticky rice balls for togetherness, and more.
Here we’ve pulled together a few of the above including other traditional dishes. These recipes will be sure to bring luck and prosperity for the coming year whether you’re gathering with family this year or just celebrating on your own.
Looking for more Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Singaporean, Malaysian or Indonesian.
01
Char kway teow
This popular flat rice noodle stir-fry is found throughout South East Asia. Spice according to your taste and ready in just over half an hour.
02
Dumplings
Dumplings are a very significant food for celebrating the Lunar New Year, specifically jiaozi dumplings. In Mandarin, “jiao zi” sounds like a phrase which also means “midnight exchange” – making them the perfect food to symbolise moving from one year to the next at midnight.
For good luck, jiaozi are shaped like traditional silver and gold ingots in the hope that eating them will bring you wealth and prosperity. Whether eating steamed, or fried, or in a broth, dumpling fillings are as diverse as they come. From pork to prawn, vegetables and beef – the only limit is your imagination.
03
Noodles
Long, long noodles are the essential to celebrating Lunar New Year. Long noodles are considered to represent a long life. This makes it bad luck to cut or bite the noodles short – instead the etiquette is to slurp the noodles as much as possible if you wish for a long life.
04
Steamed chicken
Like with serving a whole fish, whole steamed chicken represents family. The claws are also served, to help those who eat them grasp onto wealth, and eating chicken wings will help you achieve more by “flying higher”.
05
Whole steamed fish
In Mandarin, the word for “fish” also sounds like the word that means “surplus”. Serving and eating steamed fish at New Year symbolises a wish for bounty and prosperity. Serving a whole steamed fish symbolises family togetherness.
06
Vegetables
As with dumplings and noodles, different vegetables have symbolic meaning that makes them a special part of a Lunar New year feast. Lotus seeds, for instance, are a blessing for many children and a healthy family, while seaweed symbolises wealth and fortune. Grapefruit symbolises prosperity, while bamboo shoots represent a long life and a promising future.
07
Spring rolls
Everyone loves a tasty spring roll. Traditionally they’re eaten to celebrate the first day of spring. While we’re more familiar with fried spring rolls, they’re also served baked or steamed. Most commonly filled with pork, Chinese cabbage, carrots, and shiitake they can also be filled with sweet fillings like red bean paste.
09
Char siu pork ribs
Is there anything better than tender, falling-off-the-bone ribs? If you’re a fan, you’re in the right place! With a sweet Chinese BBQ sauce char siu these fall-apart favourites are finger licking good.
