Just like every other festival in Malaysia, Chinese New Year involves feasting on delicious, mouth-watering food. During CNY, families gather together to have a big reunion dinner where they all eat good food and spend quality time together.
While some think that that is all the reunion dinner is all about, they are actually wrong. Every tradition practiced during CNY is also a way to help increase your luck and prosperity for the year.
Turns out, eating can do that too but only specific food items are the ones that can actually bring your luck and here they are:
#1 Chinese Black Moss or Fatt Choy
While it is good for your health because it contains vitamins and is a rich source of antioxidants and minerals too, that is not the reason why it will bring your prosperity. It's name apparently sounds like "Prosperity" in mandarin, so if you eat it, it will bring you prosperity.
#2 Longevity Noodles
If you love noodles then during CNY make sure you order any type of long noodles because noodles represent longevity, a hope that everyone around the table enjoys a long and happy life. I would definitely recommend Vermicelli or Bee Hoon because the longer the noodles the better and there no longer noodle than Bee Hoon.
#3 Steamed Fish or Yu
I can't complain about this one because steamed fish is just a superior dish in my eyes! The Chinese word for fish, which is Yu sounds like the words for excess and having something that means excess on your table this CNY is am auspicious symbol for wealth.
#4 Yee Sang
One of the most popular lucky and fun dishes during CNY! This is one of the dishes that is abused the most by being tossed up into the air with chopsticks for the Yee Sang tossing ceremony, also called Lo Hei. Apparently, whoever tosses the highest will have the best fortune for the year, so you better up your tossing game before CNY!
#5 Dumplings
CNY not CNY, I can eat dumpling everyday. Apparently it is a must during CNY because they represent gold ingots. Their unique shapes symbolize that there's going to be more wealth and prosperity coming soon.
#6 Glutinous Rice Cake
It's name, Nian Gao, also means that you will rise higher every year. Eating this deliciously sweet and sticky rice cake with your family indicates that your prosperity that will be bigger, better, and higher than the year before.
#7 Pomelo
I never understood why so many people buy this during CNY. Apparently. pomelos represent good health, unity in the family and fertility. The Mandarin word for pomelo is yòu zǐ which sounds similar to the word again and and has the same tone as the word have. So when you eat a pomelo it means to have again or to have and gain more wealth.
