Top 10 Lucky Foods

1. Tangerines and Oranges. Displaying and eating these fruits is said to bring wealth and luck. Give them in twos with some leaves on, but never display them in groups of four. (symbolizes death)
2. Long Noodles. The longer the better; long noodles = long life
3. The Tray of Togetherness. The eight, a symbolic lucky number, 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. Means year cake and symbolize achieving new heights in the coming year.
5. Pomelo. This gigantic citrus fruit is thought to bring continuous prosperity and status.
6. Jai. The Buddhist culture encourages a person to cleanse with vegetables. This vegetarian dish is packed with “good-luck” foods: Chinese black mushrooms to “fulfill; sea moss for prosperity; lotus seeds for many children, especially sons; noodles for longevity; daylily buds for 100 years of harmonious union and many more.
7. Long Leafy Greens and Long Beans. These are served whole to wish long life to for your parents.
8. Whole Fish. It is important for the fish to be served with the head and the tail still on to ensure a good star and finish to the year.
9. Sweets. Bring a sweet life in the New Year.
10. Yuanbao (Jiaozi). When Chinese families make these traditional pork and cabbage dumplings themselves, they will often shape them to look like an old silver Chinese coin. Sometimes they will even put added good luck foods into the recipe, like peanuts.