Mandarin Oranges, Lucky Fruit For Chinese New Year Celebration

Illustration of citrus fruit and luck (Unsplash / Chuttersnap)

JAKARTA - Chinese New Year celebrations are very thick with lanterns, shades of red, lion dances, basket cakes, noodles, and one more, oranges. In general, oranges are lucky fruits that should be present in the lead up to Chinese New Year. How was the meaning of this symbol born?

In Mandarin, orange is a júzi close to the pronunciation of ji. Ji means luck, meaning that because it has a similar pronunciation, orange is synonymous with luck. In addition, orange or mandarin oranges also symbolize the golden color.

This symbol represents the hope that the next year will be covered with good luck and prosperity.

The color gold is equivalent to red and both symbolize good luck. So don't be surprised if every Chinese New Year celebration, the majority of accessories are in combination, red and gold.

The issue of orange taste is also the reason for the birth of meaning. Orange has a variety of flavors, namely sour, sweet, slightly bitter, and bitter. This taste also contains the philosophy that life can never be separated from sweet, sour, bitter and bitter tastes.

If you pay attention to decorative accents for Chinese New Year celebrations, you may also find oranges as decorations. Which means not eaten but orange trees with orange fruit will be displayed in front of the house or room to receive guests.

According to Chinese tradition, oranges also symbolize fertility, which are imaged in the decorative elements of the room.

The shape of the orange also has a philosophical meaning. Orange symbolizes perfection because it is round. It also marks beliefs about the occurrence of the cycle or wheel of life. In addition, oranges also symbolize the flowing prosperity and life.

Typical dishes other than oranges served on Chinese New Year include processed fresh fish, shellfish, dumplings, and noodles. Each of these dishes has a meaning too, just like oranges.

A pair of fresh fish according to the belief will bring prosperity. One fish, as a rule, is eaten on the eve of the celebration and the other is eaten the next day.

Shells in ancient traditions were similar to coins. Usually, the clams will be processed with grated radish, rice flour, and dried mushrooms. These preparations are known as tablets of bok goh and are believed to bring prosperity throughout the year.

In northern China, dumplings are shaped like gold bars. The meaning is not far from wealth, prosperity, luck, and family welfare.

What's unique is the noodles, because when you eat them you can't break them in the middle. Noodles have a long shape that symbolizes longevity, so when you eat them, you shouldn't break them from the tip to the bottom.