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Usually, Cantonese families will have the following foods in their balconies or kitchens from new year's eve to noon of the 2nd day of the new year to "start a good year". The vegetables will be put a basin with some water soaking the roots. These foods shall be cooked on and after the "Kai Nian Fan", lunch on the second day of the new year. Each of these foods has some good meanings:
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Full jar of rice
meaning: Always having enough grains or foods
Often, Guangdong people will stick a red paper with the word "always full" or "lucky" on the jar. |
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| Spring Onions
meaning: Be smart
Onion and smart share the same pronunciation in Cantonese
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Garlic leaves
meaning: Good at calculation, good at expenditure planning
Garlic and calculation share the same pronunciation in Cantonese |
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Sugar cane with leaves and roots
Meaning: 1. Sweet life
2. Go through with everything
Many Guangdong families will cut the sugar cane into short sticks and cook with waterchestnuts and carrots in a big wok of water. The sweet soup will help digestion. It is especially good to have the soup after days of big feasts. |
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Fishes (usually two, and must be in plural numbers)
meaning: Have spare money, food and other things
Fish and surplus share the same pronunciation in Cantonese. And buy things in plural numbers during spring festival celebration. |
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| Cabbage
Meaning: Making Money
Cabbage and make-money share the same pronunciation in Cantonese |
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Arrowheads
Meaning: In the past, it means the family to have baby boy in the coming year, but now it means only growing family. Look at the shape of an arrowhead... |
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Celery
Meaning diligence.
Celery and diligence share the same pronunciation in Cantonese |
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| Carrots with green leaves
Meaning gold.
Carrot (Ganshun) and gold share the same pronunciation in Cantonese |
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