Foods to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

by Amanda Keefer // on January 23, 2025

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During the Lunar New Year, foods take on a special significance and symbolic meaning. Here’s a list of our favorite foods and what they symbolize for the New Year.

Happy Asian family celebrating Chinese New Year at home

The Lunar New Year comes traditions around family and food. During festivities, many foods take on a special meaning, symbolizing good fortune, health and other omens for the upcoming year. These Foods to Celebrate the Lunar New Year will help you celebrate and eat right!

What is the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year is also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year and marks the beginning of a new year in the Chinese calendar. This important holiday in Chinese culture is traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities, ancestors, and bring the family together for a feast.

Chinese boy hanging lanterns on window with his mother for Lunar New Year celebration.

Families gather for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve and clean their house to “sweep away” bad fortune on New Year’s Day. The Spring Festival lasts 15 days and culminates in the Lantern Festival on the 15^th day.

When is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

The exact date of the Lunar New Year changes each year based on the lunisolar Chinese calendar. According to the Chinese calendar, the lunar month containing the winter solstice is the 11th month.

Asian families celebrate Chinese New Year

The Lunar New Year usually falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice, which usually takes place in late January or early February.

Each year is also marked by an animal or Zodiac sign. You’ll commonly see it as “The Year of the ___.” Check out our chart below to learn when the Chinese New Year falls for the next few years!

Upcoming Chinese Zodiac Animals

The Chinese New Year marks the transition between zodiac signs: 2025 is the Year of the Snake.

Foods to Celebrate the Lunar New Year

During the Chinese New Year, foods take on a special significance and symbolic meaning. Here’s a list of favorite foods and what they symbolize for the New Year.