In China, the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is the most important family meal of the year, usually held on Chinese New Year's Eve, symbolizing reunion and new beginnings. Here are some traditional dishes commonly seen in Chinese New Year's Eve dinners:
Fish: Fish is an essential dish in Chinese New Year's Eve because it is pronounced similarly to "yu", meaning "more than every year", hoping to have enough wealth and food in the new year.
Dumplings: Dumplings are an indispensable dish in the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner of northerners, because its shape resembles an ancient gold ingot, meaning good fortune.
Braised pork: Braised pork is a very popular home-cooked dish because of its mellow flavor and the implication of a prosperous life.
Chicken Soup: Chicken soup is a nutritious dish that symbolizes good health and vitality.
Four Happiness Meatballs: Four Happiness Meatballs is a dish composed of four meatballs, representing the four happy events of life, happiness and longevity, meaning auspiciousness.
Tofu: Tofu is pronounced similarly to "Duofu", which means happiness and prosperity.
Garlic broccoli: Garlic broccoli is a brightly colored dish that symbolizes a rich and colorful life.
Sweet and sour pork ribs: Sweet and sour pork ribs are a sweet and sour dish that symbolizes the sweetness and happiness of life.
The above are just some of the common Chinese New Year's Eve dinner dishes, and the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner menu may vary in different regions, but they all carry people's good wishes and expectations for the new year.