THE tradition of laying on the table 12 kinds of round fruits and ham is said to bring prosperity and good health. Chinese and other people all over the world have special traditions in welcoming the New Year.
Learn what these foods symbolize and what luck they may bring.
* Ring-shaped. Foods like doughnuts or bagels which are shaped like rings are thought by some people to represent the year coming full circle, and are believed to bring luck. Add to them chocolate coins and some round-shape candies with gold wrapper.
* Pineapple and apple. “Ong Lai”, the sound of the Chinese word for pineapple means “good luck coming your way”. Apple has always been associated with peace, good health and harmony in one's home.
* Grapes, oranges, pomelos. It is often traditional to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, one for each month in the coming year. Some people say the name of the month as they eat each grape, and if that grape is sweet, it will be a good month.
Chinese have their oranges and tangerines because Chinese words for these fruits sound like luck and wealth. Pomelo on the other hand is “to have”.
* Eating noodles. The long noodles are meant to symbolize long life, and you should take care to eat them without breaking the noodles. Buddhist Monks also eat a type of crunchy noodles at midnight on New Year's Eve, and in Buddhist temples bells are rung 108 times.
Chinese also believe noodles represent long life and it should be cooked without cutting it. The old superstition says that it’s bad luck to cut noodles.
* Pork. Pork is a symbol of prosperity in many cultures, which is one reason pork dishes are often associated with New Year's feasts. Pigs are considered good luck because they root forward, symbolizing progress, and the fatty meat is also symbolic of fattening wallets.
* Fish. The word fish, “Yu” for Chinese means wish and abundance. It is customary to serve a fish at New Year’s Eve symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year. The fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year.
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