Year of the Snake Special: Trending Chinese New Year Dishes

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Chinese New Year is not just about celebrating new beginnings, but also about indulging in delicious foods that bring luck and prosperity for the year ahead. Each year, certain dishes become particularly popular, with their symbolic meanings and flavors believed to bring good fortune. In the Year of the Snake, some traditional and modern dishes have been trending, reflecting both the rich cultural heritage of the holiday and the evolving tastes of today’s diners.

Dumplings: Symbol of Wealth 饺子：象征财富

Dumplings 饺子(jiǎo zi) are a must-have during Chinese New Year, and in the Year of the Snake, they continue to be a fan favorite. Their shape resembles ancient gold ingots, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. The tradition of eating dumplings dates back centuries, and they are often filled with ingredients like pork, cabbage, or shrimp. In recent years, creative variations, such as dumplings shaped like snakes, have emerged to embrace the animal of the year. This year, snake-shaped dumplings represent a good omen, as they are believed to bring fortune and happiness to the family.

饺子, noun, dumplings

  1. 
Dumplings are a traditional dish during Chinese New Year.

    饺子是中国新年期间的传统菜肴。
    
jiǎo zi shì zhōng guó xīn nián qī jiān de chuán tǒng cài yáo.

  2. Eating dumplings brings good luck for the new year.

    吃饺子为新的一年带来好运。

    chī jiǎo zi wèi xīn de yī nián dài lái hǎo yùn.

Fish: A Blessing for Abundance 鱼：象征富饶

In Chinese culture, fish is a symbol of abundance and good fortune, especially during Chinese New Year. The word “鱼” (yú) sounds like the word for surplus (余, yú), signifying that there will always be more than enough in the coming year. A whole fish is typically served at the New Year’s Eve dinner to symbolize completeness and prosperity. In the Year of the Snake, a whole fish dish—such as steamed fish with ginger and scallions—has become even more popular, symbolizing the hope for abundance in all aspects of life.

鱼, noun, fish

  1. 
Eating fish during the New Year is believed to bring prosperity.

    新年吃鱼被认为会带来富饶。
    
xīn nián chī yú bèi rèn wéi huì dài lái fù ráo.

  2. Fish dishes are a sign of good fortune for the upcoming year.
    
鱼类菜肴是来年好运的象征。
    
yú lèi cài yáo shì lái nián hǎo yùn de xiàng zhēng.

Noodles: A Long Life Ahead 面条：长寿的象征

Noodles 面条(miàn tiáo) are another popular dish served during Chinese New Year, especially in the Year of the Snake. The long, unbroken strands symbolize longevity, and eating them is thought to extend one's life. In this special year, many people enjoy stir-fried noodles with vegetables, shrimp, or pork, while others prefer the traditional hot pot style. Noodles are often served on New Year’s Day for breakfast, ensuring that the first meal of the year will bring a long, healthy life.

面条, noun, noodles


  1. Noodles represent longevity in Chinese culture.

    面条在中国文化中代表长寿。
    
miàn tiáo zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng dài biǎo cháng shòu.

  2. Eating noodles during the New Year symbolizes a long life.

    新年吃面条象征长寿。
    
xīn nián chī miàn tiáo xiàng zhēng cháng shòu.

Sign up for a free trial now!

FAQ / Tips

Our instructors are highly skilled and experienced experts in Chinese language teaching, with proficiency in multiple languages. They hold at least a bachelor's degree in teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and possess extensive teaching experience and knowledge. Through a rigorous selection process and ongoing training, our instructors are equipped to provide students with authentic pronunciation, accurate language usage, and cultural background knowledge, all of which are essential for achieving mastery of the Chinese language.
At Chinese Learning, protecting our customers' personal information is a top priority. We have implemented robust security measures to safeguard your data and prevent any unauthorized access or disclosure. For further information on our privacy practices, please refer to our Privacy Policy, which outlines our commitment to data protection and privacy.
We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for all new students.If you are not satisfied with our services within the first month, you may cancel your lessons and receive a refund for any unused lessons.We will only charge you for the first month of lessons, and refund the remaining balance to you promptly.Our goal is to ensure your satisfaction with our services, and we strive to provide the highest quality of instruction and support to all of our students.
Yes, our website offers courses in both traditional and simplified Chinese characters. You can choose the character set that you want to learn based on your personal preference or learning goals.Our courses are designed to accommodate learners of all levels and backgrounds, so whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, we have resources that can help you improve your Chinese language skills.
As a first - time student, if you are not completely satisfied with our service, we offer a cancellation policy that allows you to cancel your subscription before the first month. In such cases, we only charge a one - month fee and refund the remaining balance to you as soon as possible.We strive to ensure that our customers are fully satisfied with our service and are committed to providing a hassle - free refund process.
Certainly, we offer a complimentary 30 - minute trial lesson for you to experience our services before committing to a purchase.This will allow you to gain a better understanding of our qualified tutors, innovative teaching methods, comprehensive class materials, and more.We are committed to providing you with the highest level of service and ensuring your satisfaction with our courses.