Dumplings for prosperity Families fold pork-and-chive potstickers together, their ingot shape a wish for wealth — the more you make, the more the year will bring.
- The tradition
- The most important holiday of the Chinese calendar reunites families for the new year, sweeping out the old and welcoming luck and prosperity.
- Customs & rituals
- Homes are cleaned and hung with red; the reunion dinner gathers every generation; red envelopes pass to children and lanterns close the season.
- What people wear
- New clothes in lucky red and gold, never anything white or black.
On the table
2 recipes to cook for Lunar New Year.
Plan a Lunar New Year party →
Northern China · Chinese
Pork and Chive Potstickers (Jiaozi)
The dumplings at the heart of Chinese celebration: juicy pork-and-chive filling folded into pleated wrappers, then pan-fried crisp on the bottom and steamed soft on top. A hands-on, make-together feast — fold a big batch and freeze the rest.
Korea — a Joseon royal-court dish from Seoul, now cooked in every Korean home · Korean
Japchae (Korean Glass Noodle Stir-Fry)
Korea's celebration noodle — chewy sweet-potato dangmyeon tossed with beef, shiitake and a rainbow of vegetables each cooked separately so every strand keeps its own colour and bite. A royal-court dish from 1600s Seoul that now appears at every first birthday, wedding and Chuseok table.