Dose #40 – Reunion Dinner
Today, we learn about the CNY reunion dinner and the different foods served and their symbolisms..
We continue with All I Need To Know About CNY
I Learned from a Transit Ad
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Dose #40: Reunion Dinner
Spotted at: YEO’s Transit Ads, MRT stations across Singapore
What I Learned About CNY: “The biggest event of any Chinese New Year’s Eve is the Reunion Dinner. The whole family ushers in the New Year with much happiness and prosperity for everyone.” -YEO’s poster
Here is a classic CNY treat to share with everyone in your family (or at your your company’s CNY party): “Yu Sheng”
Read more about the History of Yu Sheng on ieatishootipost
Here’s a kids’ version of “Yu Sheng”,
enjoyed by my son and his classmatesat their CNY celebration in school
I thought I’d share this ad showing the CNY prosperity tossing of the Yu Sheng. It’s an advertisement of course by Nescafe GOLD, and I’m sure it sells among the Chinese, since if anything promises prosperity and good fortune, it has room in the CNY festivities…
A few CNY food symbolisms:
- “Traditionally, red meat is not served during CNY. Fish is served to ensure long life and good fortune. Saving half of a fish eaten on New Year’s Eve for the following day, symbolizes that families can transfer their surplus luck to the New Year.” Info from flavorandfortune
And here’s more info I gathered from nationsonline
- Presenting a ‘whole’ chicken with its head, tail and feet symbolizes completeness.
- Fresh bean curd / tofu is not served as it is white and unlucky for New Year as the colour signifies death and misfortune.
- Fresh fruits symbolize life and new beginnings.
- Sugared fruits are supposed to sweeten one’s upcoming year.
- Sweets and fruits are served on a round tray, the form resembling togetherness, hence the tray is called the ‘Tray of Togetherness’.
- Sweets offered on the tray add up to the number 8, because eight is a lucky number and symbolises fortune.
- A coin might be hidden in one dumpling, and the person who will find it is supposed to be showered with good fortune and wealth…. Read more on nationsonline
Some CNY’s Eve Reunion Dinner food symbolisms: 1) Round-shaped foods symbolize prosperity, completeness, perfection, family unity, continuity; 2) Noodles served and eaten UNCUT symbolize long life
Info from food and fortune; Images from CNY video on History
Here’s another transit ad that caught my attention. So what exactly is this ad saying? Perhaps it’s time to rethink your CNY gifting traditions? Maybe the modern Chinese family no longer cares for money or oranges as gifts?
Read more on the custom of displaying, giving, eating oranges and tangerines during CNY on howstuffworks
Read more about the Reunion dinner of the Chinese New Year’s eve on cultural-china
Read about 10 Good Luck Foods for CNY on chow
So do… make time to share a meal with your family (as much as possible everyday), it allows family members to interact/communicate with each other face to face like humans did before the advent of TVs, cellphones, iPads, computer games, social media, etc.
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