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JaiThis vegetarian1 dish is eaten because it\'s part of the Buddhist2 culture to cleanse3 yourself with vegetables, says Lum. It\'s also packed with good-luck foods, writes Gong, breaking it down by ingredient: sea moss4 for prosperity; lotus seeds for children/birth of sons; noodles for longevity5; lily buds to send 100 years of harmonious6 union Chinese black mushrooms to fulfill7 wishes from east to west and more. Try our recipe. Long Leafy Greens and Long BeansGong writes that leafy greens, such as Chinese broccoli8, are served whole to wish a long life for parents.Whole FishThe Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance, says Lum. It\'s important that the fish is served with the head and tail intact, writes Gong, to ensure a good start and finish and to avoid bad luck throughout the year.SweetsServing desserts brings a sweet life in the new year. Gong writes that a childhood favorite was the flaky cookie pockets called gok jai, filled with peanuts, coconut9, and sesame.Yuanbao (Jiaozi)In North China, everyone eats the jiaozi dumplings, says Dunlop. Families will make a dough10 and wrap it around pork and cabbage, and boil [the dumplings], then serve them with vinegar and soy sauce. You can wrap them in the shape of an old silver ingot. Gong writes that during New Year celebrations jiaozi are called yuanbao, a reference to the ancient, ingot-shaped Chinese currency, and that eating them is said to bring prosperity. While making them, families sometimes tuck added good-luck foods like peanuts (to bring long life) into some of them. | 
