Chinese New Year Celebrations-Wines Symbolising Prosperity
As the Chinese New Year, also referred to as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, approaches, Lucilda Stewart explores the wines that symbolise prosperity
As the Chinese New Year, also referred to as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, approaches, there’s a sense of festivity enveloping the air. The preparations for the Year of the Dragon in 2024 are underway, and very much like every other year, the emphasis firmly lies on time-honoured traditions. These traditions are believed to usher in prosperity, good fortune, and a lifetime of wellness. Amidst the myriad customs that define this festive period, wine consumption occupies a place of particular significance. Let’s explore the wines that symbolise prosperity and are traditionally savoured during Chinese New Year.
The Reverence for Chinese Rice Wine
Among the array of beverages integral to Chinese New Year’s, Chinese Rice Wine is perhaps one of the most coveted. Derived from glutinous rice, its sweetness and effervescence are loved by all. Often served in pint-sized cups, it is a vessel for sharing prosperity and good luck. Given the immense significance of rice in Chinese culture, a manifestation of wealth and abundance, Chinese Rice Wine takes on the symbolism of “liquid money”(The Chinese Zodiac).
An Age-Old Custom: The Tusu Wine
Tusu wine, another traditional Chinese beverage, has been a loyal component of the celebration for a myriad of years. With every sip of Tusu wine, you are imbibing the promise of overflowing wealth and prosperity in the upcoming year (Let’s Chinese).
At the heart of every Chinese New Year celebration are the traditional food and drink. Much like the chicken, which is an indispensable part of a Cantonese New Year feast, wine too finds its place at the dining table. It is poured alongside traditional fare such as dumplings, harbingers of wealth, setting the stage for the arrival of good fortune in the upcoming year (Let’s Chinese).
Wine- a Symbol of Prosperity
Gifts of wine and spirits during Chinese New Year are emblematic of joy, prosperity and success. These thoughtful gestures are not simply gifts but heartfelt wishes for a prosperous year ahead. Company swag, especially those branded wine bottles replete with Lunar New Year themes, add a festive touch and symbolize good fortune (Xoxoday).
It is a common sight to see special releases of wines and spirits during the Lunar New Year. Renowned brands such as Hennessy often introduce special editions commemorating the occasion. These limited releases are artistically designed, the utensils and packaging decked up with symbols that celebrate the Lunar New Year, thereby reinforcing the connection of wine with the pursuit of happiness and prosperity.
The Symbolism of Wine In Chinese New Year Rituals
In the Chinese New Year traditions, the Prosperity Bowl, filled to the brim with items symbolising hope and abundance, remains a constant. Its content, though, can vary. While eggs and gemstones are commonly found, the presence of wine takes the symbolism of abundance and completeness to a new high (The Chinese Zodiac).
In sum, the Chinese New Year celebrations in the Year of the Dragon in 2024, like every other year, are coloured with layers of traditions, each bearing its own significance. Amidst them all, wine takes center stage, boasting a deep-rooted symbolism of prosperity, abundance, and communal sharing. Be it the effervescent Chinese Rice Wine or the traditional Tusu wine, they are not just beverages. They are the bearers of cultural sentiment and good fortune.
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