Song Yingwen

FOR Chinese who consider food an important part of culture, the Spring Festival is the most important occasion on which the function of food is fully emphasized. Food is not only something to satisfy the physical needs of the body, but, at this time, it is also a means to express people's good wishes for the new year. Every family tends to lay out elaborate tables laden with auspicious dishes. Some are complicated but there are also some simple dishes that are appropriate. For reference, here are some simple auspicious dishes you can try to make at home for your family banquet.

Niannian youyu (Abundance each year)

Although customs may vary between southern and northern China, this dish is definitely a universal auspicious dish for the New Year's Eve dinner table throughout the country. The main ingredient is fish. The Chinese word for fish, "yu," sounds like the word for wealth, abundance and happiness. As a result, on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the dinner, symbolizing surplus and prosperity in the coming year. The fish, no matter whether it's steamed or fried, is served whole, with the head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year. The fish is never completely eaten to ensure that the family will have an excess of good fortune through the year.

Bubu gaosheng (Advance toward higher positions)

Niangao is the most popular dish that conveys this meaning. Niangao is a sticky rice pudding cake which is said to make people "advance toward higher positions and prosperity step by step." Niangao used to be a common food in the southern part of China, but now it is also available in supermarkets in northern China. The cake can be steamed or fried with vegetables.

Tuantuan yuanyuan (Reunion)

There are many dishes that can symbolize the meaning, like fish balls and meat balls. The round shape of the meat and fish balls portrays "togetherness." Great care is also taken to serve an even number of dishes to bestow "double happiness" on the family.

Ping'an tianmei (Sweetness and safety)

This dish is candied apple fritters, a fruit dish that has chopped apples fried and coated in a syrupy glaze. The dish is more commonly seen in northern China. To make the syrup, melt the sugar in a hot pot, stirring with a spoon until the syrup becomes sticky. Put the chopped apple pieces in the syrup and fry them together for a few minutes. The sweet syrup symbolize a sweet life and the pronunciation of apple, "pingguo" in Chinese, sounds like the word for safe, "ping'an" in Chinese.

Honghong huohuo (Flourishing and prosperous)

Nothing like a hotpot can better deliver the wish for a flouring and prosperous year during the festival time. Though a common dish, it does bring out the warmth and happiness when families get together to eat hot pot around the table.

Daji dali (Good luck)

The simplest dish to deliver the meaning is stewed chicken with chestnuts. Chicken, pronounced as "ji" in Chinese and chestnut, "li" in Chinese, makes the word "jili," meaning good luck.

Meanwhile, tangerines and oranges are the "lucky" fruits and the best presents during the Spring Festival season as the words for tangerines and oranges sound like luck and wealth. And let's not forget pomelos. This large ancestor of the grapefruit signifies abundance, as the Chinese word for pomelo sounds like the word for "to have."