Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a vibrant celebration observed by millions worldwide, including a significant portion of the Filipino population.
This joyous occasion is marked by parades, fireworks, and, most importantly, a sumptuous feast laden with symbolic dishes that bring good luck and prosperity in the coming year. This feast encourages many people to participate and ushers in abundance for the new year.
The history of the Chinese New Year dates back thousands of years to ancient China. Legend has it that a mythical beast called Nian, feared for its destructive tendencies, would emerge from its lair on New Year’s Eve to terrorize villages. To ward off the Nian, villagers would decorate their homes with red lanterns, set off loud noises with firecrackers, and leave out food offerings. These practices, while evolving, have become integral to celebrating the Chinese New Year today.
For Filipinos, Chinese New Year is a time for family gatherings, exchanging “hongbao” (red envelopes filled with money), and indulging in various delectable dishes. The cuisine, a delightful fusion of Chinese and Filipino flavors, reflects the deep cultural ties between the two nations.
So, what should we serve on our tables during Chinese New Year?
Let’s begin with some appetizers–dim sum. Many historians believe that dim sum, whose name comes from the Cantonese word for “appetizer” (Dian Xin in Mandarin Chinese), first appeared in teahouses along the Silk Road as early as 2,500 years ago as a light beverage to accompany tea that stimulated appetites when travelers paused to rest.
Dumplings, especially during the Chinese New Year, often look like Chinese silver ingots–which are boat-shaped, oval, and turned up at the two ends–or money pouches to symbolize wealth. Some even believe that the more dumplings one eats during the Lunar New Year celebrations, the more money one can make for the year. These appetizers generally consist of minced meat and vegetables wrapped in a thin, elastic dough skin. Typical fillings include pork, shrimp, chicken, beef, and vegetables. Popular ways to cook them are through steaming and frying.
Besides dim sum, spring rolls are another Chinese dish symbolizing wealth during the Chinese New Year. Like dim sum, spring rolls are cylindrical and fried to get a golden-yellow color instead of having a unique shape. Spring roll fillings are often meat, vegetables, or a combination of both, but they can sometimes be sweet.
Another staple during this time was noodles, which many related to longevity. The typical way to prepare them is to avoid cutting them to maintain their length and add different toppings to enhance the flavor. The toppings can also be symbolic, with some adding eggs for fertility, among other meaningful ingredients. However, there’s no set rule about how people can prepare noodles besides sustaining their length for its symbolism, so cook it according to your preference, like with sauce or otherwise.
Now, let’s proceed to some main dishes.
Often whole and served with its head and tail intact, fish represents abundance and prosperity. The head symbolizes the beginning of the year, while the tail signifies a prosperous future. Popular choices include steamed fish, baked fish, or fish cooked in a flavorful sauce. It should be the last dish served with leftovers. It is customary north of the Yangtze River, but in other regions, it is customary to wait until the beginning of the year to eat the fish’s head and tail in hopes that food will be abundant throughout the year.
Moreover, chicken symbolizes prosperity and good luck, making it popular at reunion dinners. It’s typically served whole, including the head and feet, to represent unity, wholeness, and a good beginning and end to the year. Chicken is usually roasted or braised for a reunion meal with essential ingredients like soy or ginger. Meanwhile, a whole chicken is traditionally offered first to the gods and ancestors for protection and blessings.
Pork and shrimp dishes are also popular during Chinese New Year. Pork symbolizes wealth, abundant blessings, a rich, prosperous life, and strength, while shrimp represents liveliness, happiness, and good fortune.
Some families also add vegetables to their Chinese New Year menu because they are associated with spring, renewal, energy, progress, and wealth. Each of the many traditional vegetables represents a particular meaning. For instance, baby bok choy can symbolize wealth and luck for the year, while gailan, or Chinese broccoli, signifies harmony.
Finally, let’s head to dessert.
Some fruits, like pomelos, oranges, and tangerines, are consumed during the Chinese New Year season because they are incredibly round and golden, representing abundance and fullness, but more obviously because they make a fortunate sound when spoken. Many consider pomelos to bring ongoing prosperity, while oranges and tangerines bring good fortune and luck when eaten and displayed.
On Chinese New Year’s Eve, Filipinos commonly eat glutinous rice cake, known as “tikoy,” as a lucky food. Many believe the tikoy’s stickiness unites people, making it an ideal metaphor for friendships and familial bonds and an ideal gift for others aside from being present at the dining table during Lunar New Year celebrations.
The Chinese New Year celebration extends beyond the festive meal. Families engage in various activities, such as decorating their homes with red lanterns and paper cuttings, setting off firecrackers to scare away evil spirits, and exchanging red envelopes filled with money (known as “hongbao”) as a symbol of good luck and blessings.
In the Philippines, where Chinese culture has significantly influenced local traditions, Chinese New Year celebrations are often observed with a unique blend of Chinese and Filipino customs. Many Filipino families, regardless of ethnicity, partake in some festive traditions, such as enjoying Tikoy, exchanging greetings, and decorating their homes with festive decorations.
Chinese New Year is a time for renewal, hope, and togetherness. It celebrates family, culture, and the promise of a prosperous future. Through the sharing of festive meals, the exchange of good wishes, and the performance of traditional customs, families, and communities come together to embrace the spirit of the new year and welcome the blessings that lie ahead.