-serving a whole chicken symbolizes family togetherness
-noodles represent long life - an old superstition states that it's bad luck to cut it
-clams and spring rolls symbolize wealth; clams = bouillon and Spring Rolls = gold bars
-the Cantonese word for lettuce sounds like rising fortune, so it is very common to serve a lettuce-wrap
-the words for tangerine and orange sound like luck and wealth
-the Chinese word for pomelo sounds like the word for "to have"
-the word for fish, "Yu," sounds like the words both for wish and abundance
( on New Year's Eve it is customary to serve a fish at the end of the evening meal, symbolizing a wish for abundance in the coming year. For added symbolism, the fish is served whole, with head and tail attached, symbolizing a good beginning and ending for the coming year)
-Cakes such as Sticky Rice Cake have symbolic significance on many levels- their sweetness symbolizes a rich, sweet life, while the layers symbolize rising abundance for the coming year. Finally, the round shape signifies family reunion.
and there you have it. Now go eat, and forget about that cholesterol for a little while.
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