Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon

Lunar New Year – known as the Spring Festival in China, Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea, and Oshōgatsu in Japan – is a celebration beginning with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later, on the first full moon. The Lunar New Year celebration is centered around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Ancestor worship is also common during this time. 

Each culture has its own list of celebratory dishes during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats. We put together a list of recipes from different countries celebrating the Lunar New Year in hopes of expanding our knowledge, recognition, and respect for AAPI cultures and traditions.

CHINA - Spring Rolls
Golden-yellow in color, which makes them resemble gold bars and symbolize prosperity for the new year.
Chinese Spring Rolls via Taste of Asian Food

JAPAN - Gyoza Dumplings and Miso Soup
Plump and tender, dumplings symbolize longevity, wealth, and prosperity. 
Gyoza Dumplings and Miso Soup via Kaori’s Kitchen

VIETNAM - Bánh Chưng (Sticky Rice Cake)
Banh Chung is a square-shaped rice cake that represents the earth and is eaten to show respect for ancestors and nature.
Bánh Chưng via Takes Two Eggs

KOREA - Yakgwa (Honey Cookies)
Yakgwa was traditionally a cookie made in different shapes to represent different wishes; bats bring fortune, pine trees symbolize the beginning of a new year, or lotus for harmony. It was eventually transformed to its current shape, round with rippled edges, but still holds the same meaning.
Yakgwa via Maangchi