What kind of fish should be used for the New Year's Eve dinner? Different fish species have different meanings.

What kind of fish should be used for the New Year’s Eve dinner? As the saying goes, "No fish, no feast." This is the Chinese way of entertaining guests, and it is also a dish that Chinese people must eat during festivals. Especially during the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, there must be a dish called “Fish Every Year”, which symbolizes abundance every year and a good start. But the types of fish eaten in different places are different, so the meaning is also different.

What fish to use for New Year's Eve dinner

Different places eat different types of fish, and the meaning is also different. For example, carp means "carp leaping over the dragon gate", which means good luck and great fortune. "Cruise" is homophonic with "good luck", so eating carp and crucian carp together during the Chinese New Year means good luck. Eat silver carp. Silver carp is homophonic with “连” (lian), which means “connection” in Chinese. Eating silver carp during Chinese New Year means abundance year after year.

Common fish varieties and their meanings for New Year's Eve dinners

1. Carp

Carp is the most popular mascot in our country. Carp jumping over the dragon gate - a metaphor for success such as passing an imperial examination or getting promoted. It also refers to moving against the current and striving to make progress. Therefore, most families choose carp as the fish for the New Year’s Eve dinner, symbolizing abundance every year.

2. Crucian carp

In many places, there is also the custom of eating crucian carp. "Crucian carp" is homophonic with "good luck", which means luck. Therefore, eating carp and crucian carp together during the Chinese New Year means good luck. There is a saying among the people that "fish make fire", but crucian carp is an exception.

3. Silver Carp

Eating silver carp during Chinese New Year means having surplus year after year. Silver carp is homophonic with “连” (long), which means “connect” in Chinese.

4. Wuchang Fish

Wuchang fish symbolizes prosperity.

5. Turbot

Turbot symbolizes wealth and fortune.

6. Turtle

Turtle soup symbolizes eternal life.