5 dishes on New Year's Day are not on the table, and the New Year is empty: tradition and meaning.
A traditional Chinese New Year feast is a must-have five-course meal, all of which are indispensable!"If you don't serve 5 dishes on New Year's Day, you won't be able to eat it for the New Year", this sentence shows the Chinese's beautiful expectations for prosperity, auspiciousness and reunion. So, what exactly do these five dishes refer to?What kind of exquisiteness and meaning does it have?Let's unveil this tradition together!
It is often said that "eating is the first thing in the world". In Chinese culture, food is not only a physical need, but also a symbolic cultural symbol. Especially on an important festival like New Year's, people pray for a happy and prosperous future with food.
New Year's Day means new beginnings and hopes, and this day is the time for us to welcome the New Year. And the saying "5 dishes on New Year's Day are not on the table, the New Year is empty" reminds us that we must prepare five dishes during the New Year to show our pursuit of a better life.
First of all, the first dish of fish is also one of the indispensable dishes. In Chinese culture, the pronunciation of fish is homophonic with "yu", symbolizing the surplus and wealth of each year. And "fish" is also connected with "surplus", implying that there is more than every year. In addition, eating fish also represents good wishes for all the best and all the best in the new year.
Secondly, the second course should be a hearty meat dish. Traditionally, pork is often used as the protagonist of this dish. Pork is rich in protein and nutrients, representing abundance and family happiness. At the same time, in Chinese culture, the pig is also an auspicious animal that symbolizes fertility and fertility, so it has naturally become a custom to use pork to attract wealth and treasure and welcome the New Year.
The third course is a symbol of abundant grains. In China, people value the harvest of grains because it represents a good agricultural harvest and family happiness. Rice, noodles, beans and other ingredients are used to make a variety of delicious dishes, and you can enjoy the food and express your wishes for a good agricultural harvest and the happiness of your family. The choice of grains also varies from region to region, with rice and glutinous rice commonly used in the south, while pasta is mostly used in the north.
The fourth course is usually a soy product. Soy products are a protein-rich, nutrient-rich food that can also represent a bountiful harvest and a symbol of reunion. During the Chinese New Year, people will use tofu and dried tofu to make all kinds of delicious dishes, which are both delicious and beautiful.
The last course might make you happy – dessert!As the finale of the Chinese New Year, desserts carry all kinds of good wishes and hopes. Whether it's rice cakes, sweets, or desserts, the sweet taste conveys the desire for a sweet life in the future. At the same time, desserts also symbolize sweet love and affection. So, on New Year's Day, you might as well feast and savor happiness!
The choice of the 5 dishes on New Year's Day varies according to the region and individual tastes, but they all contain people's yearning and pursuit of a better life. During the Chinese New Year, the family gets together and shares these five dishes, which is not only a tradition, but also a cultural inheritance.
So, remember to prepare a five-course meal and enjoy the food in the New Year, but also pay attention to family harmony and family communication. In this way, we can truly appreciate the happiness and beauty contained in "5 dishes on New Year's Day, and the New Year's is empty".
The 5 dishes on New Year's Day are an indispensable part of Chinese culture, both in terms of meaning and taste. Let's cherish this tradition and welcome the New Year with our families, enjoy delicious food, and share moments of happiness and reunion. I wish you all a Happy New Year's Day and all the best in the New Year!