The Fruits & Vegetables of Chinese New Year

Food is a common thread of Holidays celebrated around the world. I can't think of a Holiday that emphasizes Fresh Fruits and Vegetables more than the Chinese New Year's celebration. For the Chinese, the New Year is a time for Reflection and Resolution. It's also a time to spend with friends and family; to feast, and to give gifts.

Citrus is an integral ingredient during this time of the year. One of the most unusual looking pieces of fruit, is the fragrant Buddha Hand Citron. The base of this fruit resembles a lumpy lemon, with finger like extensions (the hand of Buddha) . It represents "Good luck"and "Good Fortune". This makes a wonderful table centerpiece. The Pomello is also a very important fruit for the Chinese. This looks like an overgrown grapefruit. It is usually more mildly tasting than it's counterpart. When given as a gift, it is believed to bring "Prosperity".

Mandarins, and Tangerines in general, are also thought to bring both "Luck" and "Good Fortune". These fruits with, both the Stem and Leaves attached, are a very Symbolic part of the Chinese New Year's observance. It signifies that life is "Ever growing" and "expanding", and that "Life does not end now". It also represents the "Family Tree".

The somewhat golden color of Navel Oranges represents "Wealth", and being round signifies "Wholeness" in one's life. It also represents a "Well Rounded" career. To some Chinese, the Navel variety is the only orange used during the holiday, because it is something that is easily peeled, and can be separated by hand, compared to the Seeded Juice Orange that needs to be cut with a knife. It is believed that cutting into a juice orange brings "Bad Luck", because it represents the "Severing of Relationships''.

Miniature Kumquat trees are also given out as gifts, and displayed in the home because the word kumquat means "Golden Orange" in many Chinese languages.

Some of the important vegetables used during Chinese New Year's include Green Onions. In Cantonese, the word for green onion is "Chung Ming", meaning "Brilliance" and "Intelligence". Also, the extra length of Green Onions with the Roots attached represents a "Long Life''. The Chinese Broccoli, Gai Lan, is also very popular because it signifies "Youth and Wealth".

All varieties of Leaf Lettuces are important for many, because it represents "Growing Wealth" . The Cantonese word for lettuce is "Song Choy". Song means "To Grow and Live", and Choy means both the words vegetable and wealth.


THE VIETNAMESE "PRAYER" PRESENTATION

The Vietnamese celebrate the Chinese New Year as well. They also enjoy eating some of the same fruits and vegetables as the Chinese, such as Gai Lan, Pomellos and Mandarins. However, these perishable items don't have the same meanings behind them as the Chinese customs do. But the Vietnamese do have unique traditions of their own--strongly emphasising Four Key Fresh Fruits in their "Prayer Presentation" to Buddha.

The four fruits must be presented and laid out togeher in this particular order: Cherimoya, Papaya, Young Coconut and Mango.

The word for Cherimoya in Vietnamese means "To wish for", or "To Pray for". The word Papaya and Young Coconut together means "Just enough to meet my needs". And the word for Mango means "To spend", particularly on something "Extra".

When all put together in a prayer presentation, they are saying to Buddha "I wish or pray for just enough to meet my needs. And if I am fortunate to have a little bit more, please allow me to SPEND it on something "extra" than just the essential needs in my life". This is done in a very humble, and respectful way.

Dried figs are important for the New Year, beacause it represents "Family Togetherness". Watermelon is also a key fruit. Vietnamese tradition says that the Redder the First cut Watermelon of the season, the more "Prosperous" one will be for the Remainder of the New Year.

And the Pineapple is part of Vietnamese tradition as well. It is believed that the aroma from Fresh Pineapple will bring good luck into the home, and to all those in the home as well.

"FRESH from THE MARKET"....

Greg McDonald
The Produce Guy
theproduceguy@yahoo.com

* Logo by Melanee Cooper


Special thanks to all those who were kind enough to share their culture with me!

Also to "BellyFull", The San Jose Mercury News Food Section's Website for mentioning and highlighting this Post! (2-07-08)
WWW.mercextra.com/blogs/food/2008/02/07/fruit/fruit-and-veggies-to-bring-you-good-fortune-and-long-life/