Lunar New Year 2027: what people eat

Dumplings (jiaozi)

Northern China

Jiaozi are the New Year dumpling of northern China, eaten at midnight. Their resemblance to old gold and silver ingots makes them a symbol of wealth.

Source: Chinese New Year, Jiaozi.

Rice cake (niangao)

Southern and eastern China

Niangao is a sticky pudding of glutinous rice flour, eaten and given as a gift because its name sounds like a higher year. It is most popular in eastern China, around Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Shanghai.

Source: Chinese New Year.

Fish

A fish is part of the New Year's Eve table, and the word for fish sounds like the word for surplus. Reunion dinners also tend to feature a shared hot pot.

Source: Chinese New Year.

Longevity noodles

Very long wheat noodles, fried or served in broth, eaten uncut to wish for a long life.

Source: Chinese New Year.

Yusheng (prosperity toss)

Malaysia and Singapore

A raw fish salad that diners toss together, eaten for wealth and prosperity. It is a custom of Malaysia and Singapore, and the seventh day of the New Year is the traditional day for it.

Source: Chinese New Year.

Sweet rice balls (tangyuan)

Glutinous rice balls served in a hot broth or syrup, often stuffed with black sesame. The name is a near homophone for reunion, so they stand for togetherness, and they are traditionally eaten at the Lantern Festival that closes the season.

Source: Tangyuan (food), Chinese New Year.

Tteokguk (rice cake soup)

Korea

The Korean Seollal soup of sliced rice cakes in a clear broth, eaten on New Year's morning. Tradition says each bowl adds a year to your age.

Source: Tteokguk.

Banh chung

Vietnam

A Vietnamese cake of glutinous rice, mung beans and pork, placed on the family altar for Tet. Families traditionally begin making it on the 27th or 28th day of the twelfth lunar month.

Source: Bánh chưng.