On February 9th, the Year of the Rabbit will close, and on the February 10th, the Year of the Wood Dragon will commence.
CNY is a holiday (the most important one in China in the entire year) of great significance, which you deserve to enjoy thoroughly, even if you live thousands of kilometers away. The Chinese people celebrate the Chinese New Year in high style so that the next 364 days of the year will be filled with luck, happiness, and money.
The dinner served among families during Lunar New Year 2024 must contain pork, chicken, or duck. Also, there should always be a sweet dessert on the table.
In addition, this holiday, fruits have to be on the table to attract luck and well-being. The custom of having lucky fruits on the table on Chinese New Year has been a part of Chinese and Filipino traditions from the beginning.
Kumquat Fruits – For a Year Without Illness
Kumquats are small, oval-shaped citrus fruits native to China and are commonly associated with good luck and prosperity. They are typically eaten fresh, as the skin is edible and has a sweet flavor, and are often used in recipes for jams, jellies, and other preserves.
They are rich in vitamins A and C and have plenty of health benefits. Also, having these fruits on the New Year’s table is a good omen, as they are believed to bring luck and good health.
Oranges and Tangerines – Bring Luck and Happiness
In Chinese, the word for orange sounds similar to the word for luck, and the word for tangerine sounds identical to the word for wealth, so they are often associated with these positive qualities. Additionally, the bright colors of these fruits are thought to bring happiness and joy, and they are often used as decorations during the holiday.
These fruits are everywhere during the two-week holiday and are usual gifts between friends. It is said that you have to offer them with both of your hands and not give up even if the giftee refuses the gift the first time around.
Pomegranates – Represent Longevity and Prosperity
On the other hand, pomegranates are valued for their numerous seeds, which speak about fertility, but also due to their red color, which wards off evil spirits. Pomegranates are considered auspicious in Chinese culture because the Chinese word for pomegranate sounds similar to the word for many children, which is associated with good fortune and abundance.
Cantaloup – Symbolizes Family Reunion
Cantaloupes or yellow melons symbolize family and the fact that it will remain united over the coming year.
Apples – Attract Peace and Safety
The apples offered as gifts to family and friends during Chinese New Year attract well-being. In addition, those who eat apples on this fateful night will have a quiet life full of peace and harmony. In Western culture, apples are often associated with knowledge and wisdom, as in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.
Pineapple – For Better Health
The word “Pineapple” or “Ong lai” means there will be a high chance of winning in the coming year.
On Chinese New Year, people can add pineapple to a whole bunch of foods, and a whole pineapple sitting on the table guarantees a good year in all areas of life.
Grapes – For a Prosperous Year
The tradition entails that you should eat 12 grape beans at midnight. In a habit that dates back to the 1880s, it is presumed that if you manage to eat the 12 grape beans (one for each month of the year) before the clock hits 12:01, you will have luck in the New Year.
In some parts, people hang bunches of grapes on doors and windows.
In Western culture, grapes are often associated with abundance and fertility, as they symbolize the bounty of the earth.
Mango – The Fruit of Happiness
The mango fruit is considered a bringer of luck in the religions of Southeast Asia and we find rituals related to Buddhism as well as Hinduism. It is a fruit that cannot be missing from the Lunar New Year’s table. In Hindu culture, mangoes are considered to be a sacred fruit and are often associated with love and happiness
To wrap it all up, it is said that if you have fruits like mango, grapes, pineapple, apples, cantaloupe, pomegranates, oranges, and kumquat on your New Year’s table, in the Year of the Wood Dragon 2024, you will be blessed with luck, your health will be strong and revitalized, and on the financial side things will be the best they can be.