Omnivore - Lucky food: Superstitious eats for Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is one of the best things about being Chinese. If you’re not married, you can expect to receive little red envelopes filled with money (the older you are, the more you get). And you get to pig out on food for a week. If you think Thanksgiving is a big deal, imagine a whole week of holiday feasts. There are always leftovers; food is prepared not only for close family and friends, but for ancestors and those who have died.

Traditionally, there are certain foods that must be eaten on Chinese New Year. The Chinese are a superstitious bunch, so if you’re invited for a Chinese New Year feast, be prepared. You will be expected to eat a LOT.

Everything must be eaten, because everything has a purpose. Don’t argue; it’s for your own good.

Whole, fresh fish

Yes, with the head and tail intact, and eye staring at you. No filleting allowed.

In Chinese, the word “fish” is a homonym for the word “rain.” There is a Chinese proverb used during the New Year festivities that expresses hope for rain in the years to come. Rain is essential to producing crops, and especially important to the farming industry in China. For merchants, the more crops, the more money, so eating whole, fresh fish is thought to ensure money and fortune in the new year. It also symbolizes a “fresh start,” and letting go of regrets from the past year.