Celebrate the Year of the Tiger with Crowd-Pleasing Tips

Ring in the Year of the Tiger with these fun, simple ideas for preparing a Chinese New Year feast at home.

Serve dishes that are symbolic of something positive and hopeful.

  • Noodles represent longevity; therefore they should not be cut.
  • Dishes made with oranges represent wealth and good fortune.
  • Chicken and fish symbolize happiness and prosperity – especially when served whole.
  • Spices like garlic represent “everlasting” good fortune.

Try some of these lucky Simple Asia® dishes for a prosperous year to come:


Decorate your home with symbols of good fortune:

Tradition:Bright red represents happiness; gold/orange represent wealth and good fortune.
Tip:Hang red banners or couplets with New Year wishes on walls and doors. Use red paper lanterns for lighting to set a lucky and festive atmosphere and place baskets of oranges or tangerines on tables.

Tradition:Tigers are a popular Zodiac symbol for this Chinese New Year.
Tip: Before your New Year’s Eve (February 13) celebration, create excitement about your party by sending out handmade invitations with Tiger imagery on the front of the cards. For your big New Year’s feast, create handmade menus with Tiger accents on either the front or side of the entrée list to add a festive, decorative flair to the meal.

Tradition:Flowers are believed to be symbolic of wealth and high positions in one’s career.
Tip: The official flower for The Year of The Tiger is the tulip. Decorate your dining table with several bouquets for your big New Year’s feast.

Tradition:Gifts of good fortune are given to friends and family on New Year’s Day.
Tip: Give lucky bamboo arrangements or small desserts to your guests, and red envelopes filled with “lucky money” to the kids as gifts for a year full of good fortune.