The Lunar New Year's Eve dinner, also known as the "Reunion Dinner," is a traditional Chinese meal served on the night before the Lunar New Year, which is the most important festival in Chinese culture. This dinner is an important event for Chinese families, as it symbolizes unity, reunion, and happiness.
Preparations for the dinner often start weeks in advance. Family members will travel from different parts of the country to unite with their loved ones, making the dinner a time of warmth and closeness. The meal is typically held at the home of the eldest member of the family, who is responsible for the cooking and serving of food. The meal usually begins with a prayer for good luck, health, and prosperity in the coming year.
Traditional Chinese dishes hold cultural significance, and this is always reflected in the dishes prepared during Lunar New Year's Eve dinner. The menu typically includes dumplings, fish, chicken, pork, hotpot, and vegetables to represent good fortune, luck, and happiness.
Dumplings are the most popular dish served during this dinner and are believed to bring wealth and prosperity. The shape of the dumpling symbolizes a gold ingot, which was used as currency in ancient China. Fish is another must-have dish because it sounds similar to the Chinese word for "surplus," which is a symbol of wealth, as well as prosperity, and success.
Chicken marinated with soy sauce and Chinese spices is another dish that most families will include on the menu. It is considered to be a symbol of reunion, virtue, and harmony. Pork is also an essential dish to serve because it represents wealth and prosperity as pigs are known to have abundant offspring.
The hotpot is another popular dish served during Lunar New Year Eve dinner. It is a soup containing various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, and seafood that are cooked in a pot of broth. It is enjoyed as a communal meal where family members chat and bond while cooking and devouring the dish.
The Lunar New Year's Eve dinner is not only about the food, but it's also an opportunity for family members to spend quality time with each other and to exchange gifts and offer well-wishes for the coming year. It is a time for reflection, forgiveness, and a renewed sense of purpose.
In conclusion, the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner is an essential aspect of Chinese culture and tradition. It is a cherished opportunity for families to come together, feast, and celebrate the start of a new year. The significance of this event is not only rooted in the food but extends to the meaningful connections between family members.
