What is the traditional meal on New Year’s Day?

On New Year’s Day, eat rice cakes, dumplings, glutinous rice balls, pepper wine, eggs, fish, etc.

1. Rice cakes

Eating rice cakes on New Year's Day means that the new year will be "higher every year", and each year will be better than the last. Rice cakes contain nutrients such as protein, starch, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamin B complex.

2. Dumplings

Eating dumplings on New Year's Day is one of the customs of the New Year's Day. Dumplings have a beautiful meaning of festive reunion and good luck. Dumplings are transformed from wontons. Northerners eat dumplings every New Year's Day.

3. Tangyuan

Eating glutinous rice balls on New Year’s Day has rich meanings. It is not only a delicacy, but also a kind of meaning and hope. Tangyuan is made from glutinous rice flour and fillings.

4. Jiaobai wine

Eat Jiaobai wine on New Year’s Day. Jiaobai wine is made by soaking Sichuan peppercorns and cypress leaves. Drinking pepper and cypress wine on New Year's Day is a traditional custom in Licheng, Shandong and Jiaxing, Zhejiang. There are also other similar traditional customs.

5. Eggs

Eating eggs on New Year’s Day has rich meanings. It symbolizes that the new year is about to begin and life is full of auspiciousness and peace.

6. Fish

Eating fish on New Year’s Day means having more than enough every year. Fish is one of the most auspicious dishes during the Chinese New Year, and eating fish represents good luck and good wishes. The braised carp is especially delicious. The fish has a rich aroma and a fresh and tender texture, which means that the new year is prosperous and every year is more than enough.