Introduction
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is a time for family reunions, festive celebrations, and delicious food. Food plays a significant role in Chinese New Year traditions, as certain dishes are believed to bring good luck and prosperity. In addition to the food, there are also many auspicious phrases that are exchanged during this time. Let’s explore some of the most popular Chinese New Year foods and phrases.
Symbolic Foods for Good Fortune
魚 – 年年有餘
Translation: Fish – Abundance every year
Pinyin: yú – nián nián yǒu yú
Fish (魚): Symbolizing abundance and prosperity, fish is a must-have dish on the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner table.
水餃 – 招財進寶
Translation: Dumplings – Attract wealth and treasure
Pinyin: shuǐ jiǎo – zhāo cái jìn bǎo
Dumplings (水餃): Shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots, dumplings represent wealth and good fortune.
芥菜 – 長命百歲
Translation: Mustard greens – Long life and good health
Pinyin: jiè cài – cháng mìng bǎi suì
Noodles (麵條): Long noodles symbolize long life and happiness.
蘿蔔 – 好彩頭
Translation: Radish – Good luck
Pinyin: luó bo – hǎo cǎi tóu
The Significance of Color
Red: The color red is associated with good luck and happiness in Chinese culture. Red envelopes (hongbao) containing money are given as gifts during Chinese New Year.
Gold: Gold is another lucky color that symbolizes wealth and prosperity.
Auspicious / Blessing Phrases
“吉祥話” (jí xiáng huà) are auspicious greetings we exchange during Chinese New Year. Since 2025 is the Year of the Snake, let’s share some special greetings for the Year of the Snake.
Blessings for the Year of the Snake
- 蛇年如意 (Shé nián rú yì) – Wishing you a smooth and successful year in the Year of the Snake.
- 祥蛇賀歲 (Xiáng shé hè suì) – The auspicious snake celebrates the New Year, symbolizing good luck and harmony for the coming year.
- 蛇運當頭 (Shé yùn dāng tóu) – The good fortune of the Snake is upon you, signaling smooth sailing, happiness, and success ahead.
- 福蛇迎春 (Fú shé yíng chūn) – The lucky snake welcomes the spring, symbolizing blessings and hope for the new year.
Commonly Used Blessings
- 大吉大利 (Dà jí dà lì) – Great luck and great profit
- 事事如意 (Shì shì rú yì) – May everything go as you wish
- 一路發財 (Yī lù fā cái) – Wishing you wealth all the way
- 身體健康 (Shēn tǐ jiàn kāng) – Wishing you good health
- 福壽雙全 (Fú shòu shuāng quán) – Wishing you both happiness and longevity
- 五福臨門 (Wǔ fú lín mén) – May the five blessings come to your door
- 財源廣進 (Cái yuán guǎng jìn) – May wealth flow in from all directions
- 恭喜發財 (Gōng xǐ fā cái) – Wishing you prosperity (commonly used during Chinese New Year)
- 招財進寶 (Zhāo cái jìn bǎo) – May wealth and treasures come your way
Customs and Traditions
- Giving Red Envelopes: Giving red envelopes filled with money is a popular tradition during Chinese New Year.
- Spring Cleaning: Cleaning the house before Chinese New Year is believed to sweep away bad luck and make way for good fortune.
- Setting Off Firecrackers: The loud noises of firecrackers are believed to scare away evil spirits.
If you have any questions, feel free to use our free community to ask questions.
Modern Celebrations
While traditional customs are still observed, Chinese New Year celebrations have evolved over time. Modern celebrations often include family gatherings, festive decorations, and cultural performances.
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