9 Lunar New Year Dishes to Bring Good Luck

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The Lunar New Year is coming soon, and families around the world are preparing for the celebration. Besides decorations and traditions, food also plays an important role. Many Lunar New Year dishes are believed to bring good luck, wealth, and happiness. These special foods are not only delicious but also full of meaning that reflects hopes for a better year ahead.

In this article, we will look at several popular Lunar New Year dishes and the good meanings behind them. Each dish carries a special wish, making the celebration more joyful and meaningful.

Jiaozi are traditional Chinese dumplings commonly prepared for Lunar New Year, especially in northern China. Their shape resembles ancient gold ingots, which links them to wealth and financial success. Families often gather to wrap dumplings together on New Year’s Eve, making the dish meaningful not only for its symbolism but also for the sense of reunion it creates.

Lion’s Head Pork Meatballs are a festive dish made from oversized pork meatballs that are braised until tender and flavorful. Their name comes from their resemblance to the head of a Chinese guardian lion, a cultural symbol of strength and protection. Serving this dish during the holiday expresses hopes for family unity, stability, and lasting prosperity.

Longevity noodles are strongly associated with wishes for a long and healthy life. They are prepared extra long and served uncut to preserve their symbolic meaning. Because breaking the noodles is believed to shorten the blessing, they are handled carefully. Eating them during the New Year reflects hopes for endurance, happiness, and a smooth journey ahead.

Serving whole fish is a long-standing Lunar New Year tradition tied to the idea of abundance. In Chinese, the word for fish sounds similar to the word for surplus, reinforcing its lucky meaning. The traditional preparation is steamed whole fish, presented intact from head to tail to represent completeness, with leftovers symbolizing continued prosperity.

Nian gao is a sticky rice cake enjoyed in both sweet and savory forms. Its name sounds like the phrase meaning “rising higher year by year,” which connects it to growth and advancement. Because of this, it is eaten to express hopes for career progress, academic success, and overall improvement in life.

A whole chicken is often featured at reunion dinners because its complete form carries symbolic value. Serving it intact represents wholeness, harmony, and a strong family unit. It also reflects the wish for a good start and finish to the year, making it a meaningful centerpiece for the festive table.

Spring rolls are a popular festive appetizer enjoyed across many regions. Once fried, their golden exterior resembles gold bars, which connects them to wealth and financial luck. Their name also links them to the Spring Festival itself, making them both a symbolic and seasonal dish served to welcome prosperity.

Tangerines and oranges are widely displayed and shared during the celebration. Their golden color is associated with wealth, while their pronunciation in Chinese languages is linked to success and good fortune. Offering these fruits to guests is a gesture of goodwill and a way to pass along blessings for the coming year.

Tang yuan are glutinous rice balls typically served in a lightly sweet broth. Their round shape symbolizes reunion, balance, and emotional closeness. Often eaten at the end of celebrations, they represent the idea of family members coming together and remaining connected as the new year begins.