As the Chinese New Year is approaching on the 26th January, preparations for the big celebration is on the way. I’ll be heading to Australia then, but some prior celebrations are definitely rolling in. Today I’m just about to celebrate it over a reunion dinner with my family.
A reunion dinner is held on Chinese New Year’s Eve where members of the famiy get together for a big feast. Relatives from afar return home for this annual event, and reunite at the Grandparents’ home for the celebration. The New Year’s Eve dinner is very sumptuous and traditionally includes Imperial cuisine (such as Sharks fin Soup and ‘Buddha jumps over the wall’) and raw fish. The Chinese sometimes follow the tradition not eating the fish completely (and the remainder is stored overnight), as the Chinese phrase “may there be surpluses every year” ( 年年有餘) sounds the same as “may there be fish every year.”
Shark’s fin soup is an extravagant delicacy that has been a popular item of Chinese cuisine since the Ming Dynasty, usually served at special occasions such as weddings and banquets. During Chinese New Year, the dish is also part of the Reunion Dinner as it is considered a symbol of wealth and prestige.
Braised abalone with Chinese cabbage is also a popular dish during the Chinese New Year. ‘Bao yu’ (Chinese for Abalone), which has a parallel meaning of “assurance” (bao) of a “surplus” (yu) in the year ahead, is the best symbol for wealth and riches. Although pricy, the abalone is a must-eat for the superstitious Chinese on such important occasions.
An abalone usually can cost up to $30 per kg. Chinese New Year Reunion dinner sets can set you off at S$400 (US$300) got 6 persons.
‘Hongbaos’ (Red packets) for the immediate family are sometimes distributed during the reunion dinner. These packets often contain money in certain numbers that reflect good luck and honorability. Several foods are consumed to usher in wealth, happiness, and good fortune. Several of the Chinese food names are homophones for words that also mean good things.
On Renri, the seventh day of Chinese New Year, we celebrate by feasting on the quintessential dish of Yusheng is a salad composing of various ingredients colorfully mixed to give blessings and good luck. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means “raw fish” but since “fish (鱼)” is commonly used in relation to “abundance (余)”, the dish has an auspicious meaning of an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.
In a celebration known as “lo hei”, families and friends gather around the table and, on cue, proceed to toss the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying auspicious wishes out loud to mark the start of a prosperous new year and it’s customary that the higher you toss, the greater your fortunes!
Typical ingredients include: fresh salmon, daikon (white radish), carrot, red pepper (capsicum), ginger, daun limau nipis (lime tree leaves), Chinese parsley, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp), five spice powder. The dressing is made primarily from plum sauce
The Chinese New Year might just be the most celebrated festival in the World, especially with the high population of Chinese people. It’s a great season to kick away old habits, and bring in the new things. Wishing you all Gong Xi Fa Cai!
