Lunar New Year Candies: Symbolism and Significance
Every Lunar New Year, families celebrate with numerous traditions, including the preparation of special candy boxes. These boxes are filled with treats that symbolize various fortunes such as wealth, happiness, and luck. Here’s a closer look at some popular candies and their meanings during this festive occasion.
Traditional Candies and Their Meanings
Candies: During the Lunar New Year holiday, children (and adults) are actually encouraged to indulge in sugar. According to tradition, candies symbolize the sweetness of life.Coconuts: The Cantonese word for coconuts sounds like the word for grandfather-son in both Cantonese and Mandarin, symbolizing strong family bonds and a large family.Cracked sesame balls: Made from flour and sugar then dipped in sesame seeds and deep-fried, these sesame balls are popular during Lunar New Year. The cracks represent a smile, and they’re affectionately nicknamed “laughing dates.”Carrots: The Cantonese word for “carrot” is pronounced “gam seon.” As “gam” sounds like the word for gold, it represents wealth, even though the terms for carrot and gold differ in written Chinese.Kumquats: The Cantonese word combines two fortunes—gam (gold) and gat (luck and prosperity).Lotus roots: Symbolizing a fruitful year, the term for lotus roots sounds like an idiom about a match made in heaven.Lotus seeds: Lin zi, the Cantonese word for lotus seeds, sounds similar to a saying about giving birth consecutively, hence offering them is viewed as a fertility blessing.Peanuts: Known for their nutritional benefits, peanuts are often called “the fruit of longevity.”Winter melons: These are consumed to ensure a prosperous start and end to the year, especially concerning business matters.Roasted seeds: Grabbing roasted seeds symbolizes the accumulation of fortune. They are typically boiled with seasonings before being fried to a crispy finish.Water chestnuts: The Cantonese term, “ma in ma tai,” shares pronunciation with the word for horse, which symbolizes vitality and prosperity in Chinese culture.Gold chocolate coins: Western candies wrapped in gold foil are also popular during Lunar New Year celebrations, adding a sweet touch to the festivities.
Understanding the meanings behind these traditional treats enriches the Lunar New Year experience, blending flavors with cultural significance. Enjoying these candies not only brings sweetness but also symbolizes the hopes and aspirations for the year to come.
