Chinese Spring Festival - The significance of "reunion dinner"
In the West, there is Thanksgiving—on this night, families cross state lines, tables laden with turkey and pies, to pause and express gratitude. In China, there is an older, grander, and equally sacred festival. It is called Lunar New Year's Eve. And this night is not just about dinner, but a reunion dinner (the New Year's Eve feast). For over a billion people, this meal is more important than any other meal of the year. It's not about culinary skills or rare ingredients, but about who sits at the table, who is absent, and who will be remembered. On this night, the entire nation—no matter how far they've traveled, how crowded the trains, how expensive the tickets—comes to a standstill and simply… goes home. A dining table full of symbolism Every dish on the family reunion dinner table carries meaning. It's not just a convenient menu, but a language of hope conveyed through food. The fish (yú) must be served whole, head and tail intact. It symbolizes a bountiful ha...