The whole noodle should be eaten-bit by bit-without breaking it into pieces. The longer the noodles, the bigger the wish for long life. Jiǎozi – these are dumplings shaped like silver ingots symbolising wealth and the change to a new year.Ĭhángshòu Miàn – translated as longevity noodles. We eat tangerines (chéng) which sounds the same as auspiciousness and are gold in colour signifying wealth. Good fortune fruit – symbolising fullness and prosperity. They symbolise progress, advancement, and growth year-after-year.Ĭhūnjuǎn – these are spring rolls symbolising the Spring and start of the new year. Nian gao – this is a sticky cake made of rice, sugar, chestnuts, dates, and lotus leaves. You also have to make sure you don’t flip the fish when eating it as this is seen as unlucky. When you eat the fish you must eat it all but some people leave the head and tail (the surplus) to eat on New Year’s Day. There are seven traditional foods that are eaten at New Year and they all have meaning.įish (Yú) – Yú also sounds like the word for “surplus”. What do people eat during Chinese New Year?Ī. Having around 30 family members who qualify means this can be quite an expensive business and not one I’ll miss this year! That’s not just your siblings, but your cousins, nephews and nieces. That’s really disappointing but one consolation is not having to gift “hong bao” which means “red envelope” – a tradition that means crisp, brand new £5 notes (or more!) are handed over in two red envelopes to each unmarried member of your family. We usually go to see my parents in Newcastle which obviously won’t be happening this year.

Travelling to see family sees the largest human migration on the planet with 3 billion trips being made in China alone. He’s fully embraced Chinese culture though, and that makes New Year even more special for me. For us it’s slightly different as my husband is half Ghanaian and half Indian-Guyanese. New Year’s Day is normally spent with your husband’sįamily and the day after that, with the in-laws.

How will the Lampteys celebrate Chinese New Year in lockdown?Ī.

Kung hei fat choi