Chinese cuisine is at its height during the Chinese Lunar New Year. A veritable feast of feasts. And us Chinese know from banquets. Huge ones.

But while I will get into the many different kinds of dishes served specifically during CNY, here’s the most essential and basic ones, full of meaning: A whole fish served with head and tail intact to represent an auspicious beginning and end for the New Year. A white or poached chicken, which must be presented with a head, tail and feet to symbolize completeness and prosperity. Noodles should be uncut, as they represent long life.

In other words, everything must come together, not separate, and this is what being Chinese is all about.

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Copyright © 2003 Kenny Mah Ying Fye.