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5 Lucky Foods to Welcome a Prosperous New Year.

5 Lucky Foods to Welcome a Prosperous New Year

Experiences

Across cultures, food plays a central role in welcoming the New Year.

December 27, 2025

Text: Jeerawan Duangnam Herriot

2 min read

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Certain dishes are believed to bring prosperity, longevity, harmony, or fresh beginnings. It’s truly a delicious start to a lucky year. These dishes are more than food — they’re meaningful traditions infused with hope, symbolism, and cultural charm.

By beginning the year with noodles for longevity, dumplings for wealth, fish for abundance, and sweets for rising fortune, travellers and food lovers alike can welcome a new chapter with flavor and positivity. No matter adopted as tradition or simply enjoyed for their symbolism, these five dishes offer a delicious way to start the year on a lucky note.

LONG NOODLES

A Wish for Longevity

In many Asian cultures, long uncut noodles represent a long and healthy life. In Chinese culture, “Longevity Noodles” (Changshou Mian) represent a long, healthy life because their unbroken length symbolizes the thread of existence. Served in broth or stir-fried with vegetables, the key is to avoid breaking them before they reach the bowl. Their satisfying slurp and comforting warmth make them a perfect dish for welcoming new possibilities and wishing for enduring happiness.

For New Year or Birthday, noodles are eaten without being cut or bitten through, as a continuous strand ensures a future without misfortune or early end.
For New Year or Birthday, noodles are eaten without being cut or bitten through, as a continuous strand ensures a future without misfortune or early end.

WHOLE FISH

Abundance and Prosperity

A whole fish — often steamed or grilled — symbolizes completeness, abundance, and surplus for the coming year. The word for “fish” in several East Asian languages sounds like the word for “extra,” making it a lucky dish connected to good fortune. Serving it whole represents unity in the household and a smooth transition from one year to the next.

A whole fish for a whole year. Serving it from head to tail symbolizes a good beginning, a smooth middle, and a successful end.
A whole fish for a whole year. Serving it from head to tail symbolizes a good beginning, a smooth middle, and a successful end.

DUMPLINGS

Little Pockets of Wealth

Dumplings resemble ancient gold ingots, making them a symbol of wealth and prosperity. Whether pan-fried, boiled, or steamed, they’re often enjoyed at midnight or during New Year feasts. Families gather to fold them together, turning the process into a warm tradition filled with laughter, wishes, and the hope of financial luck.

Wrapping up wealth! Because dumplings are shaped like ancient silver ingots.
Wrapping up wealth! Because dumplings are shaped like ancient silver ingots.

ROUND FRUITS

Wholeness and Good Energy

Fruits such as oranges, tangerines, grapes, or apples are popular New Year blessings. Their round shape represents wholeness and continuity, while bright colours — especially gold and orange — symbolize vitality and good luck. Displayed on tables or gifted to loved ones, they signal positivity and freshness for the year ahead.

Golden fruit for a golden year.
Golden fruit for a golden year.

Discover the foods that bring prosperity. Fly to China with Thai Airways!

RICE CAKES

Rising Fortune

Rice cakes, whether Japanese mochi, Korean tteok, or Chinese nian gao, are often linked to rising success. Their sticky texture represents strong bonds, while their smooth form symbolizes purity and new beginnings. Enjoyed grilled, sweetened, or in warm soups, they bring comfort and hope to New Year celebrations.

The chewy texture of mochi/rice cakes represents family togetherness—staying bonded and sweet all year long.
The chewy texture of mochi/rice cakes represents family togetherness—staying bonded and sweet all year long.

Mochi and tteok were believed to bring good luck for the New Year. Fly to Fly to Japan or South Korea with Thai Airways to try!

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