Lunar New Year nian gao

Image

By

Kat Lieu

Abstract

Nian gao (sweet rice cake) is an auspicious food like many other foods eaten during Lunar New Year. Nian means year. While gao means cake in Cantonese, it’s also a homonym for tall or high; thus, nian gao symbolises a good, prosperous year ahead.

Without fail, my mother would serve us pan-fried nian gao for breakfast every morning on the first day of Lunar New Year.  I never gave our traditions much thought or appreciated this simple QQ and not-too-sweet cake until I moved away from New York City and stopped having nian gao during Lunar New Year for a few years. These days, I make sure we have plenty of nian gao and other foods that symbolise good luck and fortune to go around every Lunar New Year.

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