Chinese New Year food is a huge part of the two week celebration which takes place during the first lunar month of the year. This particular New Year celebration is determined by the Chinese character. It is a lot like the Western new year, in that it does, indeed, celebrate the coming of a new year. Only the logistics are different. In the Western world, some cultures cook up cabbage on New Year's day, adding silver coins into the pot in order to bring health, wealth, and luck in the coming year. With the Chinese New Year, the sentiments are the same. Only the foods served are different.
There is a wealth of opportunity to eat delicious and symbolic food during this celebration. It is served for a two week period. From the first day of the first lunar month, the celebration lasts until the fifteenth day of the month. Some people have the food catered, some people make it themselves, but the food served is always strongly symbolic.
One traditional food which may surprise you is chicken - but not just any chicken. Generally whole chickens are served. This is because an entire chicken symbolizes togetherness within the family. Serving one means that the family will be together and happy for the coming year.
Noodles are another cuisine staple during the New Year. They are extremely important, and lots of symbolism and superstitions surround them. Noodles should always be served long and uncut. This symbolizes a long life. You can serve them any way you like - in soup, as a side dish, as a main course, or as an appetizer. Just make sure you do not cut them in half!
In certain cases, some foods are served simply because the word for them sounds like a word for something else. If the name of a food sounds anything like the words for luck, fortune, ambition, abundance, et cetera, they will most likely be served during the celebration. For instance, many citrus fruits are included for this reason.
Last but not least, all kinds of fish are important during Chinese New Year. One reason fish is served is because of the above explanation. "Yu," the word for fish in Chinese, sounds like the words for wish and abundance, thus symbolizing good fortune. As well, if you serve the fish with the head and tail included, then it is lucky. The head symbolizes a good beginning for the year; the tail symbolizes a good ending.
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