Introduction
Often associated with happiness, the Lunar New Year is an ancient holiday, which is observed by millions of people around the globe as an indication of the beginning of the new year by the Chinese lunisolar calendar. It is a time for reunion with relatives, for food, and honored dead. One of the main components of the festivities is the creation of high spirits for Lunar New Year which are associated with the preparation of specific treats. Here, we identify how all the traditional Lunar New Year goodies highlighted in this article have been traditionally taken generation after generation to symbolize happiness, prosperity and good luck in the New Year.
1. Nian Gao – Glutinous Rice Cake
Lunar New Year goodies, specifically, is Nian Gao or better known as Glutinous Rice Cake. Coined from glutinous rice flour, brown sugar and at times, a pinch of salt, this traditionally mashed cake is steamed, boiled or fried until it become compact and chewy. Nian Gao is an importance item for increase in status, growth, or progress simply because of its rising, so to speak, tall shape.
Being an homophone for ‘higher year’, steam Glutinous Rice Cake, Nian Gao is taken to symbolize a better and prosperous new year during the Lunar New Year. Originally during Chinese New Year house owners used to place a piece of this Nian Gao on the doorway as a symbol of prayer not to be harmed by evil spirit, while those who received Nian Gao wished to have more of it in the future.
2. Ang Ku Kueh – Red Tortoise Shell Cake
Ang Ku Kueh is one of the traditional treats that are unique to the Lunar New Year celebrated in South China; however, most popular with the Peranakan people as well as the Nyonya. This snack is made up of a glutinous rice flour kneaded dough with a starchy filling that is often bean or peanut. The final step on preparation of the cake is to cover it with a bamboo leaf and steam it or cook it using a bamboo steamer.
Ang Ku Kueh forms the shape of a tortoise shell – familiar to people of Chinese descent due to its auspicious meaning. Red color of the filling symbolizes joy, richness and success. Ang Ku Kueh is traditionally given as a gift during the Lunar New Year to passerby or relatives and friends so that they will live long and be happy.
3. Pineapple Tarts – Jitas
Jitas or pineapple tarts are small brightly-colored tarts that have a tart, pineapple filling within a buttery sweet cookie crust. Nonya cuisine is the culinary combination of Chinese and Malaysian Nonya the dessert is from this culture. The pineapple tarts are traditionally in shades of yellow which represents fortune and prosperity.
These scrumptious biscuits are called butter cookies although masquerading as Jitas or Pineapple Tarts due to the consumption during Lunar New Year period. These are offered as part of or during celebrations to show the love and plenty of the event or in cases where people dine together.
4. Bak Kwa – Barbecue Pork Jerky
Bak Kwa is one type of snack for the Lunar New Year that comes from China but is consumed widely in some part of South East Asia. Used pork and sugar and spices make a paste out of it, then cut the paste into thin round pieces and it is fried and after that, dried which becomes a kind of jerky sweet, salty chewy food. The rosy colour of Bak Kwa signifies prosperity and the pronunciation of the word ‘Bak Kwa’ means beef which is associated with prosperity in the Hokkien dialect.
Over the Chinese Lunar New Year festival, Bak Kwa is usually being distributed as token of goodwill to friends, families and beloveds for a prosperous year ahead. Being one of the most popular snacks in Singapore, Bak Kwa has a great taste and enjoys high popularity during the Lunar New Year feast.
5. Love Letters – Kuih Kapit
After rice cakes, the next famous treats during the Chinese New Year, particularly amongst the Peranakan and Nyonya are the Love Letters, also known as Kuih Kapit. These confections consist of an extremely thin golden crépelike batter that has been scented with pandan leaf, a sweetened mashed-bean filling of mung beans, and are formed into small cylinders.
This dish is called the letters because of the form it is served – very thin letters, which people used to write to each other expressing their love. As such Love Letters can be completely associated with the Lunar New Year event in order to represent unification, love and harmonized family reunion.
6. Chendol – Green Rice Jelly with Palm Sugar
Chendol is a distribution of Indonesia which is very much enjoyed in all countries in South East Asia as a Lunar New Year delicacy. A delectable treat of smooth green rice jelly in palm sugar syrup, coconut milk served together with kidney beans, red beans and crushed peanuts; Chendol is a real delight.
The green colour of the rice jelly promises new beginnings or rebirth, affluence and increase in riches. In this recipe, sweet palm sugar syrup is mixed with coconut milk that signifies that sweetness indicates success and happiness. Preparing Chendol during Lunar New Year and sharing it with the family and friends symbolises the hope for a sweetness of the coming new year.
Conclusion
The Lunar New Year is not only a time of celebration but also an opportunity to reunite with loved ones, enjoying precious moments together while savoring delicious festive dishes. As mentioned earlier, each traditional dish and treat during the Lunar New Year carries symbolic meaning, reflecting hopes and aspirations for the year ahead. In addition to beloved items like Nian Gao and Chendol, there is a wide array of CNY goodies that hold special significance and are eagerly anticipated by families. These sweet and savory delights are a cherished part of the celebration, shared warmly with family and friends as a way to express love, happiness, and prosperity. This Chinese New Year, be sure to offer and indulge in these delicious CNY goodies as you welcome the Year of the Ox, sharing joy and good fortune with those around you.