Celebrating Chinese New Year: History, Customs, and Foods
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Chinese New Year: A beautiful look at the history, customs, and foods used to celebrate the changing of the Lunar Calendar. Recipes and traditions make this celebration a delicious occasion.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email, and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, you’ll get delicious new recipes from us every Friday!
Living in the Pacific Northwest, on the Pacific Rim, we have exposure to many Asian cultures and traditions that enrich our lives. Lunar New Year celebrations are a favorite.
Whether we spectate at Lantern Festivals or feast with friends, we find great enjoyment not only in the cuisine but in the symbolism of wealth, health, and prosperity that run deep through Chinese traditions.
Keep reading for some incredibly Lunar New Year food ideas…
My son and I, a few years ago, in Seattle’s Chinatown or International District.
As you know, each new year begins with a symbol. If you’re not familiar, let me give you a bit of history … and a bit of legend. After all, a bit of legend is what gives this celebration its sparkle and color.
When is Chinese New Year Celebrated?
The Chinese New Year is celebrated on the first day of the First Moon of the lunar calendar. That date varies each year with the calendar reset and can occur as early as January 21st to as late as February 19th.
The Chinese Lunar Calendar is one of the most ancient calendars in the world.
Origins of the Signs of Chinese New Year
According to legend, the Chinese emperor, some 4,000 years ago, held a race to determine the sequence of animals in the 12-year cycle of his new calendar. The rat came in first by hitching a ride on the ox’s nose and jumping over the finish line at the last possible moment. The rabbit was fourth, and so on.
It is particularly fun to determine which symbol represents the year of your birth. See an interactive chart here.
Significance of Chinese New Year
While the Chinese have many colorful, meaningful, and significant festivals and holidays, Chinese New Year, more than the others, is dedicated to renewal and thanksgiving and strengthening of family ties.
Preparations for Chinese New Year
Preparations for the Chinese New Year in old China begin well in advance of the celebration.
The 20th of the Twelfth Moon is set aside for annual housecleaning. Every corner of the house must be swept and cleaned in preparation for the New Year.
Spring Couplets, written in black ink on large vertical scrolls of red paper, adorn the walls or sides of the gateways. These couplets, short poems in Classical Chinese, are expressions of good wishes for the family in the coming year.
In addition, symbolic flowers and fruits are used throughout the home, and yes, there is symbolism attached to that as well.
Traditions of Chinese New Year
Chinese families will gather, and partake in traditional menus, and the children and young adults will receive red Lai-See Envelopes filled with money and in some cases, presents.
Often when you leave, your host will present you with a tangerine or an orange, symbolic of good luck and wealth in the coming year. For more on the symbolism of Chinese New Year, click here.
How Long is Chinese New Year Celebrated?
Chinese New Year is traditionally celebrated for two weeks.
On the 15th day, New Year celebrations end with a Lantern Festival. On that evening, people carry lanterns into the streets to take part in a great parade.
The Dragon Parade
Young men will highlight the parade with a dragon dance. The dragon was traditionally made of bamboo, silk, and paper, and might stretch for more than a hundred feet in length.
The bobbing and weaving of the dragon is an impressive sight and a fitting finish to the New Year festival.
My son was delighted one year to be the object of a dragon’s shaking, which is symbolic of good fortune in the year to come.
Traditional Chinese New Year Food
Traditional Chinese New Year menus vary according to family traditions. However, there are a few universal ingredients often found on the New Year table.
These include
- a whole fish to symbolize abundance
- a whole chicken to symbolize family unity
- dumplings to symbolize prosperity
- noodles to symbolize long life
- and oranges to promote wealth.
You May Also Like:
Lunar Chinese New Year Recipes and Ideas
Sour Plum Duck, A Hakka Chinese Classic
"Sour plum duck was a special meal my father used to make for us as kids. He first made it one year on Chinese New Year’s day, and from then on, we’d beg him to make it even if it wasn’t a holiday!"
Pan Fried Fish - Chinese Whole Fish Recipe
"Pan fried fish is a dish commonly prepared by Chinese families. Like steamed fish, it’s simple to make! In general, I’ve found that the selection and availability of fish plays a big factor in the type of dish that is prepared."
Authentic Chinese Steamed Fish
Steamed whole fish is a classic dish in Chinese home cooking. It uses very few ingredients to bring out the great flavor of fresh fish.
Chinese Hot Pot
An easy idea for Chinese New Year is Chinese Hot Pot. Get ideas, how to's -- and 9 tips on hosting a successful Chinese New Year Feast.
Stir-fried garlic green beans
"These easy, healthy garlic green beans make a great accompaniment to a Chinese feast, and they're made with just 4 ingredients in 15 minutes."
Stir-Fried Sticky Rice Cakes (Nian Gao)
"This is a popular dish in southern China. For me, this dish is distinctively “Shanghai,” as it seemed to show up on the table more frequently after I met Judy, whose family is from that area. Our entire family enjoys this dish and the delicious chewiness of these sticky rice cakes, which are kind of like really chewy oval-shaped pasta."
Bok Choy with Black Bean Sauce
"Stir-fry bok choy, carrots and celery for just a couple minutes before adding a simple black bean sauce in this quick dish."
Chow mein
"A classic Chinese dish of stir-fried egg noodles with shredded chicken breast - experiment with different fish, meat, or vegetables."
Long Life Longevity Noodles with Chicken and Mushrooms
+During Chinese New Year, long noodles are eaten in all corners of China."
Sichuan Boiled Fish Recipe
"The flavors of this fish are out of control—super spicy, super intense, super delicious. This recipe moves fast, though, so stay on top of it by prepping and lining up your ingredients before you start cooking."
Chinese Beef Dumplings
"Learn how to create the most juicy and flavorful beef dumplings, with one special trick."
More Chinese New Year Recipe Ideas
- Singapore-Style Noodles: Curry Noodles with Pork or Chicken
- Seasonal Antidote: A Perfect Pho
- 7 Favorite Chinese Takeout Recipes
- Quick and Easy Broccoli Ginger Pork Stir-Fry
- Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles
- Healthy Baked Egg Rolls with Ginger Soy Dipping Sauce
- Traveling Asia with Asian Street Food to Make at Home
- Home Cooked Pad Thai: a New Family Favorite
- Chinese Spicy Chicken Garlic Eggplant with Curried Rice
- Asian Coleslaw with Chicken, Broccoli and Toasted Almonds
- Favorite Takeout Beef and Broccoli Becomes Quick and Easy
- Easy 15-Minute Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli
- Slow Cooker Pork Lo Mein with Veggies: Easy and Healthy
- Chicken Satay with Malaysian Peanut Sauce
- A Simple, Soul Satisfying Thai Red Curry Soup
- Asian Beef and Vegetable Noodle Soup (Pad Thai Soup)
- Celebrating Chinese New Year: History, Customs, and Foods
- Easy Instant Pot Chicken Pho
- Asian Coconut Curry Noodle Soup with Shrimp
- Healthy Instant Pot Kung Pao Chicken
- Ginger Pork Noodles with Bok Choy
- Slow Cooker Korean BBQ Bulgogi Wraps
- Easy Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli
- Easy Fried Rice with Broccoli Cabbage Slaw
- Healthy 20 Minute Dinners in 20 Minutes or Less
- Instant Pot Asian BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Honey Sesame Chicken Drumsticks Recipe
- Longevity Long Life Noodles with Chicken and Mushrooms
- Easy Chicken Curry, Even in a Hurry
- Curried Singapore Noodles
- Thai Rice Noodle Soup with Bok Choi and Nam Prik
- Thai Ginger Beef
- Yakisoba with Pork and Cabbage
- Savory Chinese Pork Dumpling Soup is Like Dim Sum in a Bowl
- Curry Chicken Ramen with Butternut Squash
- 17 Crave Worthy Asian Noodle Recipes To Try For New Year Celebrations
- Thai Chicken Panang Curry Recipe
- Steamed Chinese Dumplings Recipe
- Easy Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
- 15 Minute Chicken and Broccoli
Wonderfully written article. May the year of the Rooster bring us all boundless happiness, prosperity and good health!
Wonderfully written article. May the year of the Rooster bring us all boundless happiness, prosperity and good health!
Thank you Alex! May this also be a prosperous and blessed year for your family as well!