Eight Lucky Foods for Lunar New Year
八種農曆新年吉祥食物
Happy Lunar New Year! This time of year is all about good wishes. But did you know that many of these good wishes are edible? Here are eight lucky New Year foods in the Chinese tradition and why they are lucky. Now, where to start?
農曆新年快樂!過年就是祝福的時節。但你知道這些祝福竟然可以吃嗎？以下是八種中國傳統的新年吉祥食物，我也會解釋這些食物為什麼有吉祥之意。嗯，該從哪個開始好呢？
Number One: Long Life Noodles
第一：長壽麵
Wish everyone and yourself a long life by eating very long noodles without cutting them. Slurping is allowed—your longevity is at stake.
吃麵線時，要把麵線拉得非常長，不要咬斷，這樣就能祝福自己和所有人活得長久。發出吸麵聲也沒關係－－畢竟攸關你的壽命啊。
Number Two: Dumplings
第二：餃子
You never need an excuse to eat dumplings, but now you have a reason to eat more. These are ingots. They used to be a form of currency in China, and they were made of gold and silver, and dumplings look like them. The idea is the more you eat, the more money you'll have. I am a millionaire!
吃餃子完全不需要找理由，但你現在有理由吃更多了。這些是金元寶。過去在中國被用來當成一種貨幣，是由金和銀製成的，而餃子的外觀和金元寶很像。所以你吃越多餃子，就代表錢會越多。我是百萬富翁!
Number Three: Spring Rolls
第三：春捲
If you didn't get rich from all those dumplings before, that's okay. Have some spring rolls, which represent solid gold bars. Wow, 14 karats!
如果你剛剛吃餃子還是沒有賺大錢，沒關係。這裡有些春捲，象徵意義是金條。哇，14 克拉!
Number Four: A Whole Fish
第四：整條魚
Having the head and the tail of the fish symbolizes a good beginning and a good ending for the coming year. Also, the word "fish" in Chinese sounds like the word for "surplus."
吃魚頭和魚尾就代表你在新的一年會有好的開始與結束。而且「魚」在中文的發音聽起來跟「餘」一樣。
Number Five: Festive Fruits
第五：節慶水果
See how bright and round these oranges are? Just like a big lump of gold, which is why they are a symbol of wealth. And the word "orange" in Chinese sounds like the word for "success." Here are some liquid assets I prepared earlier.
你有看到這些柳橙有多圓、色澤多明亮嗎？就像一大堆金子一樣，這也是為什麼柳橙象徵財富。而「橙」這個字在中文聽起來像「成」。這裡有一些我剛剛準備的一些流動資產。
I want you to dump 40 percent and short the rest.
拋售百分之四十的股票，其他賣空。
To your success.
祝你事業順利。
Number Six: Year Cake
第六：年糕
This is "nian gao," a sweet and sticky cake made of glutinous rice flour. "Nian gao" means "year cake," but it also sounds exactly the same as "nian gao," which is the word "year" followed by the word "tall." So, may each New Year be taller for you. May you reach new heights—a promotion, a raise, more cake! More cake? I don't mind at all!
這是「年糕」，一種甜甜黏黏的糕類，用糯米粉製成。「Nian gao」直譯就是「年糕」，但聽起來和「年高」一樣，也就是「年」和「高」這兩個字的組合。所以說，希望你在每個新年在各方面都更高。願你達到新的高度－－升遷、加薪、更多蛋糕!更多蛋糕？我是一點都不介意啦!
Number Seven: Sweet Rice Dumplings
第七：甜湯圓
New Year is all about family reunions. For dessert, we eat tang yuan, and we say, "tuan tuan yuan yuan." "Tuan yuan" means "reunion," and "yuan" means "round," so the aim is to have the whole family around the table together. And the rice ball is round, like the table. It's pun for the whole family! Where's my family?
新年就是家人團聚的時刻。我們會吃湯圓當點心，並且說：「團團圓圓。」「團圓」代表「團聚」，而「圓」的意思是「圓滿」，所以吃湯圓的目的就是要讓整個家庭一起圍在桌邊。而且湯圓是圓形的，就像桌子一樣。這是代表整個家庭的雙關語!啊我的家人呢？
Number Eight: The "Togetherness" Box
第八：全盒
This is a "quan he"—it's a collection of snacks, mostly sweets, for visitors, or for me. Mostly for me.
這是「全盒」－－是一整盒的點心，大多數都是糖果，是分給客人吃的，或是自己吃。大部分都我自己吃掉的。
These are melon seeds, or "gua zi." It sounds a lot like the saying "nian sheng gui zi," which means to give birth to sons. What about daughters? I'm a daughter. Mom, what about daughters?
這些是香瓜的種子，或叫做「瓜子」。聽起來像在說「年生貴子」，意思是生兒子。那女兒呢？我是女兒欸。媽，女兒呢？
These are lotus seeds, or "lian zi." Again, it sounds like that whole "give birth to sons" thing,
or daughters.
這些是蓮花種子，或叫做「蓮子」。這聽起來也像是剛剛說的「生兒子」那句話，或者生女兒。
These are lotus roots. They're called "lian ou," which sounds like the word for abundance.
這些是蓮花的根。被稱作「蓮藕」，發音聽起來跟表達富足的「年有（年年都有）」類似。
And these are white rabbit lollies because...compulsory.
然後這些大白兔奶糖是...因為過年就是要吃這種糖果。
Hold on. Abundance, giving birth to children, rabbits, seeds, fertility. Mom, are you sending me a message through this box? How did we get from "No dating!" to "Where are my grandchildren?" A conversation for another time, perhaps.
等一下。富足、生孩子、兔子、種子、多產。媽，妳送我全盒是不是別有意思？妳以前都說「不准交男朋友」，現在怎麼可能立刻幫妳實現「我的孫子在哪裡？」的願望!可能我們下次得聊聊了。
Of course, there are many ways to celebrate the New Year with food. Let us know your favorites in the comments below. And a happy New Year to you. Gong xi fa cai!
當然還有很多用食物慶祝中國新年的方式。在留言區告訴我們你最愛的食物。新年快樂。恭喜發財!
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