Names and symbolisms matter when it comes to eating during Lunar New Year (Geoff Peters / Flickr Creative Commons).

One of the biggest attractions of these celebrations is the abundance of food served. Almost every dish served during Lunar New Year has a meaning. So, Neon Tommy has rounded up these 10 auspicious foods to eat in honor of Lunar New Year.

Chicken: Serving a whole chicken is believed to bring prosperity and wholeness for the new year. 

Citrus Fruits With Leaves: The Chinese word for orange sounds very similar to the Chinese word for gold, and the Chinese word for tangerine sounds like the Chinese word for luck. So eating either of these fruits during Lunar New Year will bring one wealth or luck for this upcoming year. Additionally, the leaves on these fruits symbolize longevity. 

Dessert: Sweets bring a rich and sweet life for the coming year.

Eggs: In Chinese culture, eggs symbolize fertility. 

Lettuce: The Chinese word for lettuce sounds like the Chinese word for wealth. So lettuce symbolizes prosperity and a new beginning to go with the new year. 

Lion Head Meatballs: Lion Head Meatballs are large pork meatballs wrapped in cabbage. These meatballs represent abundance, strength, and family unity. 

Long Noodles: It is believed that eating long noodles on a special occasion, such as Lunar New Year, will bring one a long life; the longer the noodles, the longer the life. 

Peking Duck: Duck represents fidelity in Chinese culture.

Rice Cake: Many people eat rice cake during this time to celebrate the beginning of the spring rice harvest. However, eating rice cake during Lunar New Year is also done because it is believed to increase prosperity.  

Whole Fish: Serving a whole fish during Lunar New Year is said to bring a good beginning and ending of the upcoming year. Serving fish is also said to bring wealth and abundance. However, it is believed that if you flip the fish over, even after eating the top layer of the fish, you will have bad luck for the year. 

Everything eaten during Lunar New Year is intended to promote success for the upcoming year. So feel free to feast and enjoy because the more you eat, the better of a year you will have.

Reach Associate Food Editor Janelle Cabuco here.