Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, also known as the “reunion dinner”, is the most important meal of the year for Chinese people. It is a time for families to come together and share traditional dishes that symbolize luck, wealth, and prosperity.

Preparation for the New Year’s Eve dinner usually starts days in advance. Family members clean their homes, purchase new clothes, and stock up on ingredients for the feast. The dinner is typically held at the house of the oldest patriarch or matriarch in the family.

The menu for the New Year’s Eve dinner is often full of symbolic foods with auspicious meanings. Dumplings represent wealth and prosperity, while Spring Rolls signify wealth and new beginnings. Fish is considered a must-have dish as it symbolizes abundance and surplus in Chinese culture.

Other traditional Chinese New Year foods include nian gao (sticky rice cake), tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), and jiaozi (dumplings). Each dish has its own symbolic meaning and is significant to the Lunar New Year celebration.

Sharing the New Year’s Eve dinner together is a way for families to bond and strengthen their relationships. During the meal, family members share stories and memories of the past year while expressing hopes and wishes for the upcoming one. It is a time for reflection, celebration, and anticipation of the future.

In recent years, many families have started to incorporate modern elements into their New Year’s Eve dinner. Some may opt for international cuisine, while others may add new, trendy dishes to the traditional menu. However, the importance of the reunion and the significance of the symbolic foods remain unchanged.

The New Year’s Eve dinner is a cherished tradition that embodies the spirit of Chinese culture. It is an opportunity for families to come together, honor their ancestors, and welcome the New Year with joy and gratitude.

翻译：

中国的年夜饭，也被称为“团圆饭”，是中国人一年中最重要的一餐。这是一个家庭聚在一起分享象征着幸运、财富和繁荣的传统菜肴的时刻。

年夜饭的准备工作通常提前几天开始。家庭成员打扫房屋，购买新衣服，并为宴会储备食材。晚宴通常在家族中最年长的族长或女族长的家中举行。

年夜饭的菜单上通常都是象征性的食物，具有吉祥的含义。饺子代表财富和繁荣，春卷则代表财富和新的开始。鱼被认为是必备菜，因为它在中国文化中象征着丰富和过剩。

其他传统的中国新年食品包括年糕、汤圆和饺子。每道菜都有自己的象征意义，对农历新年庆祝活动意义重大。

一起分享年夜饭是家庭建立联系和加强关系的一种方式。在用餐期间，家人分享过去一年的故事和回忆，同时表达对即将到来的一年的希望和祝愿。这是一个反思、庆祝和展望未来的时刻。

近年来，许多家庭开始在年夜饭中融入现代元素。有些人可能会选择国际美食，而另一些人可能会在传统菜单上添加新的时尚菜肴。然而，团聚的重要性和象征性食物的意义仍然没有改变。

年夜饭是一种珍贵的传统，体现了中国文化的精神。这是一个让家人聚在一起，向祖先致敬，并怀着喜悦和感激的心情迎接新年的机会。