Among the significant festivities of the Chinese yearly calendar CNY is the most popular for Chinese and millions of people celebrate it worldwide. This symbolises the beginning of the lunar new year and encompasses many positive customs with it. The other great part of Chinese New Year celebrations is food options that are typical of this time of the year. Ever prepared during celebrations, there are several classy and traditional foods, confectioneries, etc, which form part of peoples’ cultural heritage.
Chinese New Year goodies, or ‘Kueh Bangketan’ as they called in the Malaysian market, are specific Chinese cookies that indicate and have meanings of Chinese tradition and culture. They also represent a method of sharing of luck, wealth and happiness to the loved ones or any individual of interest. In this article, we will detect some of the most famous snacks consumed during Chinese New Year celebrations and the meaning of these products.
Nian Gao
Nian Gao is basically a rice cake the major constituent of which is glutinous rice flour, sugar, and at times, pean and sesame seeds. The literal meaning of the term Nian Gao is Year Cake or Sticky Rice Cake and people believe cannot do without this when planning to celebrate the Chinese New Year feasts. The consumption of Nian Gao during the new year will bring a sweet and successful year ahead since the word in Chinese for high or tall is similar to Gao. Therefore, consuming Nian Gao also means experiencing a very successful and tall New Year in coming years.
Ang Ku Kueh
Ang Ku Kueh is a traditional Chinese made from glutinous rice flour which comes from the Fujian province of China. It is prepared from rice flour and has sweet red bean paste as the filling and it is covered with a bright red covering. The color red colour is one of the most respected in China thanks to its ability to convey happiness, blessings and good luck. Moreover, the tortoise or ‘Gui’ in Chinese, symbolizes longevity and stability. Therefore, eating Ang Ku Kueh means that the coming year will have all the elements of joy, prosperity and long life.
Pineapple Tarts
Baked Pineapple Tarts are possibly the most popular Chinese New Year cookies in all SEA, particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. These delicious tarts used tender flaky croissant dough and pineapple jam as the filling for the tarts. This tart does not even have the pineapple taste but got its name from the manner it resembles the fruit. The fruit the pineapple represents wealth or prosperity since it has a golden outer skin texture and looks like a pineapple. Pineapple tarts must be consumed during Chinese New Year specifically, it is said to provide the lucky recipient with luck, prosperity as well as fortune.
Love Letters
Love Letters or ‘Kueh Bangkit’ is a crispy form of cookies which has originated itself from China but has become a necessity during Chinese New Year celebrations in Malaysia and Singapore. These distinguished and crunchy cookies are prepared from wheat flour, sugar and Ghee(special category of Butter), and enjoy the aroma of Pandan and coconut fragment at times. It was thought that Love Letters are associated with affection and close kith and kin. They are presented during celebrations such as births, weddings, birthdays, Christmas or any other special occasion with friends or relations to enhance love.
Peanut Cookies
Keria Kacang or peanut cookies are other Chinese New Year cookies prepared from ground peanuts, flour, sugar and little butter. These crisp and savory cookies are thought to represent steadiness and tenacity because of the lengthy course of the preparation. Eating Peanut Cookies during Chinese New Year is believed to pass on perseverance and strength to complete the consumer hence staying strong to challenges in new year.
Bak Chang
Bak Chang or ‘Zongzi’ is a famous Chinese traditional food prepared with glutinous rice as the main ingredient wrapped between bamboo leaves with bamboo or rice string tie. Filling, they should put meat, nuts, vegetables and etc inside of the dumpling skin. The glutinous rice used in preparing Bak Chang is in deed symbolic of togetherness as per the cultural values. The dumpling shape and the wrapping reminds a gold bar and thus represents wealth and prosperity. Bak Chang prepared and eaten together with friends and family during Chinese New Year brings close-knit and reunion.
Mooncakes
Mooncakes are traditional Chinese sweets associated with the festival which is held in the period of Chinese New Year, at least as far as its variety. But they are also consumed during the new year occasions as well. These small round shaped biscuits are stuffed pastries made of highly compacted flour dough and can have fillings as sweet as lotus seed paste or as savory as red bean or salted duck eggs. The roundness of the mooncake is associated with the idea of completing, wholeness; the filing symbolizes reconciliation of divided families. Chinese New Year is a time to rekindle family ties and show appreciation for unity and togetherness thus passing of mooncakes is significant.
Hakkam Peng
He was happy to explain that Hakkam Peng is a dessert which is especially prepared during Chinese New Year and is of Chinese Hakka origin from the South. These cakes are hard and soft products prepared with ingredients such as flour, sugar, and honey. They adopt the honeycomb shape.The honeycomb shape is chosen to express a wish for all the members of the family to come together like bees in a new home. The consumption of Hakkam Peng in Chinese New Year advices the recipient and sender to have strong bonds between family and friends and bring back sweet memories.
Chinese New Year goodies hold a special place in the Lunar New Year festivities, embodying both delightful flavors and rich cultural significance. These traditional treats not only tantalize the taste buds but also carry deep historical meaning, reflecting the values and traditions of each society. By enjoying and sharing these goodies with colleagues, family, and friends, you extend warm wishes for a prosperous and joyful New Year. These snacks serve as a bridge to Chinese heritage, offering a taste of tradition while symbolizing the spirit of love, care, and shared prosperity among loved ones.
Celebrate the joy of the season with meaningful treats. Explore a curated selection of traditional and modern CNY goodies at cnydelights.com and savor the essence of this cherished celebration!