Ah, Chinese New Year’s Eve is when we all break out the cleaning supplies and scrub our home spotless. We call this spring cleaning, and we’re doing it to welcome the New Year and the God of Fortune (in case he pops by). And let’s not forget about the dash to the supermarket for all the ingredients needed to whip up a delicious reunion dinner. It’s all worth it when we sit at a table full of yummy food and spend time with our loved ones. So, let the cleaning and shopping commence, and let’s ring in the new year in style!
Yu Sheng: Toss For A Much Better Year
Why go to a fancy restaurant to eat Yu Sheng when you can make it home and have as much fun? Not only is it more economical, but you also get the bonus of customising it to your liking. Plus, there’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of laying out all the colourful ingredients and participating in the traditional Lo Hei toss. And let’s not forget the bonus of being able to control the amount of fish and other ingredients, so you can go as light or heavy as you like.
Yu Sheng, or “Prosperity Toss,” is a traditional dish commonly eaten during Chinese New Year celebrations. It is a salad-like dish made of raw or smoked salmon, vegetables, and various sauces, and it is often served with instructions for the diners to toss the ingredients together while saying auspicious phrases.
Tossing the ingredients together and using auspicious phrases is believed to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year. The dish also symbolises abundance and wealth, as the ingredients are arranged to resemble a pile of gold and silver.
Additionally, the dish is often served in large platters to be shared among a group, representing unity and togetherness. It is also a way to bond with family and friends during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
Yu Sheng is a traditional Chinese dish passed down through generations and is deeply rooted in Chinese culture. It is a delicious dish that symbolises good luck, prosperity, abundance and togetherness. So, next Chinese New Year, save some money and make it a fun family activity by making your own Yu Sheng at home!
Tang Yuan: Sweet Treat For the First Day of Chinese New Year
Wakey, it’s the first day of Chinese New Year, and you know what that means? Time to roll out of bed and enjoy some delicious and chewy Tang Yuan! Nothing like a good old-fashioned glutinous rice ball to start your day right. And let’s be honest; it’s much better than that bowl of cereal or peanut butter bread I usually have. So, don’t be shy; take a big bite and embrace the sweet deliciousness of Tang Yuan.
Tang Yuan is a traditional Chinese sweet dessert made of glutinous rice flour shaped into small balls and typically filled with sweet fillings such as red beans, grounded peanuts or black sesame paste. They are also known as “sweet rice balls”, a symbol of unity and togetherness, as it’s often served and shared among a group of people, particularly on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
The round shape of tang yuan represents completeness, unity and harmony, and the glutinous rice also symbolises togetherness and sticking together. Eating Tang Yuan on the first day of the Chinese New Year is a way to ensure a sweet and harmonious start to the new year.
Tang Yuan is also believed to bring good luck and prosperity, as the glutinous rice balls are said to resemble gold and silver nuggets, which are symbols of wealth and abundance. It’s also a sweet treat to start the new year on a sweet note.
In conclusion, the first day of the Chinese New Year is important for families to come together and celebrate the start of the new year. This is when families visit each other, share meals, and exchange well wishes for the coming year. The traditional foods consumed today, such as Yu Sheng, Tang Yuan and reunion dinners, are delicious and have cultural and symbolic meanings deeply rooted in Chinese culture. The first day of the Chinese New Year is a time to bond with loved ones, make memories, and start the new year with good luck and prosperity. It’s a day that brings families together, an essential aspect of Chinese New Year celebrations.
