# data[].attributes.headline
1. Tangerines and OrangesDisplaying and eating these fruits is said to bring wealth and luck. According to the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, the tradition stems from the way the Chinese words for gold and orange sound alike, while the word for tangerine echoes luck. “It’s good if they have leaves,” adds Lum, “because leaves symbolize longevity.” But don’t group them in fours, because, Dunlop says, this number is associated with death.2. Long NoodlesIf noodles are served, then “keep them as long as possible for long life,” says Lum.3. The Tray of TogethernessPut out for visiting relatives to snack on, or given as a gift, the eight (“a traditionally symbolic lucky number,” explains Dunlop) compartments of the tray are filled with things such as preserved kumquats for prosperity, coconut for togetherness, longans to bring many sons, and red melon seeds for happiness.4. Nian Gao“Nian gao means year cake, but gao sounds the same as the word for tall or high,” says Dunlop. Hence the cakes symbolize achieving new heights in the coming year. The steamed sweets are made of glutinous rice flour, brown sugar, and oil. Some versions have white sesame seeds, red dates, or nuts in them (the dates are said to bring “early prosperity,” writes Gong in Good Luck Life). If you want to try your hand at making nian gao, here's our recipe. Chowhounds also have some tips.5. PomeloThis large citrus fruit is popular, writes Gong, because it is thought to bring “continuous prosperity and status.” The tradition comes from the way the Cantonese phrase for pomelo sounds similar to the words for prosperity and status, explains Lum.6. JaiThis vegetarian dish is eaten because it’s “part of the Buddhist culture to cleanse yourself with vegetables,” says Lum. It’s also packed with good-luck foods, writes Gong, breaking it down by ingredient: sea moss for prosperity; lotus seeds for children/birth of sons; noodles for longevity; lily buds to “send 100 years of harmonious union”; Chinese black mushrooms to “fulfill wishes from east to west”; and more. Try our recipe.7. Long Leafy Greens and Long BeansGong writes that leafy greens, such as Chinese broccoli, are “served whole to wish a long life for parents.”8. Whole FishThe Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance, says Lum. It’s important that the fish is served with the head and tail intact, writes Gong, “to ensure a good start and finish and to avoid bad luck throughout the year.”9. SweetsServing desserts brings a sweet life in the new year. Gong writes that a childhood favorite was the flaky cookie pockets called gok jai, filled with peanuts, coconut, and sesame.10. Yuanbao (Jiaozi)“In North China, everyone eats the jiaozi dumplings,” says Dunlop. “Families will make a dough and wrap it around pork and cabbage, and boil [the dumplings], then serve them with vinegar and soy sauce. You can wrap them in the shape of an old silver ingot.” Gong writes that during New Year celebrations jiaozi are called yuanbao, a reference to the ancient, ingot-shaped Chinese currency, and that eating them is said to bring prosperity. While making them, families sometimes tuck added good-luck foods like peanuts (to bring long life) into some of them.11. Chinese Sweet and Sour PorkPork is a popular choice for New Year meat, as its fattiness portends a well-fed year to come. Try our Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork recipe.12. Crispy Chinese Egg RollsSpring rolls are more traditional than egg rolls because the Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival, but hey, it's close. And delicious. Try our Crispy Chinese Egg Roll recipe.13. Sweet and Sour ChickenYes, this is more of a modern American fusion dish, but sweet and sour are two of the "five flavors" of classical Chinese cooking. The others are salty, pungent, and bitter, according to Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry, by Frederick J. Simoons. Try this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe.14. Slow Cooker Fried RiceIf we're going all Chinese-American, we might as well get in some fried rice. Here's a way to use that Crock Pot again to make a meal or side dish that's particularly kid-friendly. Try our Slow Cooker Fried Rice recipe.

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Tangerines and OrangesDisplaying and eating these fruits is said to bring wealth and luck. According to the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, the tradition stems from the way the Chinese words for gold and orange sound alike, while the word for tangerine echoes luck. “It’s good if they have leaves,” adds Lum, “because leaves symbolize longevity.” But don’t group them in fours, because, Dunlop says, this number is associated with death.2. Long NoodlesIf noodles are served, then “keep them as long as possible for long life,” says Lum.3. The Tray of TogethernessPut out for visiting relatives to snack on, or given as a gift, the eight (“a traditionally symbolic lucky number,” explains Dunlop) compartments of the tray are filled with things such as preserved kumquats for prosperity, coconut for togetherness, longans to bring many sons, and red melon seeds for happiness.4. Nian Gao“Nian gao means year cake, but gao sounds the same as the word for tall or high,” says Dunlop. Hence the cakes symbolize achieving new heights in the coming year. The steamed sweets are made of glutinous rice flour, brown sugar, and oil. Some versions have white sesame seeds, red dates, or nuts in them (the dates are said to bring “early prosperity,” writes Gong in Good Luck Life). If you want to try your hand at making nian gao, here's our recipe. Chowhounds also have some tips.5. PomeloThis large citrus fruit is popular, writes Gong, because it is thought to bring “continuous prosperity and status.” The tradition comes from the way the Cantonese phrase for pomelo sounds similar to the words for prosperity and status, explains Lum.6. JaiThis vegetarian dish is eaten because it’s “part of the Buddhist culture to cleanse yourself with vegetables,” says Lum. It’s also packed with good-luck foods, writes Gong, breaking it down by ingredient: sea moss for prosperity; lotus seeds for children/birth of sons; noodles for longevity; lily buds to “send 100 years of harmonious union”; Chinese black mushrooms to “fulfill wishes from east to west”; and more. Try our recipe.7. Long Leafy Greens and Long BeansGong writes that leafy greens, such as Chinese broccoli, are “served whole to wish a long life for parents.”8. Whole FishThe Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance, says Lum. It’s important that the fish is served with the head and tail intact, writes Gong, “to ensure a good start and finish and to avoid bad luck throughout the year.”9. SweetsServing desserts brings a sweet life in the new year. Gong writes that a childhood favorite was the flaky cookie pockets called gok jai, filled with peanuts, coconut, and sesame.10. Yuanbao (Jiaozi)“In North China, everyone eats the jiaozi dumplings,” says Dunlop. “Families will make a dough and wrap it around pork and cabbage, and boil [the dumplings], then serve them with vinegar and soy sauce. You can wrap them in the shape of an old silver ingot.” Gong writes that during New Year celebrations jiaozi are called yuanbao, a reference to the ancient, ingot-shaped Chinese currency, and that eating them is said to bring prosperity. While making them, families sometimes tuck added good-luck foods like peanuts (to bring long life) into some of them.11. Chinese Sweet and Sour PorkPork is a popular choice for New Year meat, as its fattiness portends a well-fed year to come. Try our Chinese Sweet and Sour Pork recipe.12. Crispy Chinese Egg RollsSpring rolls are more traditional than egg rolls because the Chinese New Year is also called the Spring Festival, but hey, it's close. And delicious. Try our Crispy Chinese Egg Roll recipe.13. Sweet and Sour ChickenYes, this is more of a modern American fusion dish, but sweet and sour are two of the "five flavors" of classical Chinese cooking. The others are salty, pungent, and bitter, according to Food in China: A Cultural and Historical Inquiry, by Frederick J. Simoons. Try this Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe.14. Slow Cooker Fried RiceIf we're going all Chinese-American, we might as well get in some fried rice. Here's a way to use that Crock Pot again to make a meal or side dish that's particularly kid-friendly. Try our Slow Cooker Fried Rice recipe.

# data[].attributes.headline
LaBa CongeeThis is a mixture of rice, nuts, and beans cooked together. LaBa Congee is usually served at the LaBa festival, which is the 8th day of the last month of the year.

# data[].attributes.subject
LaBa CongeeThis is a mixture of rice, nuts, and beans cooked together. LaBa Congee is usually served at the LaBa festival, which is the 8th day of the last month of the year.

# data[].attributes.headline
Tang YuanTang Yuan is small ball made from glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice flour is mixed with a small amount of water to form balls and is then cooked and served in boiling water. Tang Yuan can be either filled or unfilled. It is traditionally eaten during Yuan Xiao, or the Lantern Festival (the 15th of the first month of the traditional Chinese calendar).

# data[].attributes.subject
Tang YuanTang Yuan is small ball made from glutinous rice flour. Glutinous rice flour is mixed with a small amount of water to form balls and is then cooked and served in boiling water. Tang Yuan can be either filled or unfilled. It is traditionally eaten during Yuan Xiao, or the Lantern Festival (the 15th of the first month of the traditional Chinese calendar).

# data[].attributes.body
New Year Cake

It is solid cake made with glutinous rice flour together with some sugar. New Year Cake is popular in Eastern China.

# data[].attributes.headline
DumplingsDumplings are very popular in Northern China. It is one of the main dishes for New Year's Eve dinner. Conversely, very few people in Southern China serve dumplings in New Year's Eve dinner.

# data[].attributes.subject
DumplingsDumplings are very popular in Northern China. It is one of the main dishes for New Year's Eve dinner. Conversely, very few people in Southern China serve dumplings in New Year's Eve dinner.