Happy Chinese New Year, 2026

In the 1990s, my family took part in many Chinese New Year traditions, including the preparation of 攢盒 / cyun hap. This “tray of togetherness” was a round container of little compartments, each filled with sweet treats that symbolized an auspicious wish for the new year. It fell out of favor over the years since no one in my family particularly enjoyed the flavors of the traditional confections. But as I’ve reconnected with my cultural heritage as an adult, I’ve sought out an understanding of the traditions and their nuanced meanings.

馬蹄 / maa tai / water chestnut — For the year of the horse, I’ve put these succulent and delicately crunchy white disks at the very center. The colloquial Cantonese name 馬蹄 translates into “horse hoof”. What better way to usher in the year of the horse?

I haven’t been able to uncover where this name came from, and my research revealed conflicting meanings behind what these morsels represent. But one meaning I’m drawn to is that of unity and togetherness. Compounded with the togetherness symbolized by the entire tray, I’m hoping for a double dose of community in these divisive times.

蓮藕 / leen ngau / lotus root — At the top of the tray are the large, starchy slices of dried candied lotus root. The name sounds similar to 年有 / leen ngau, which roughly translates into “have abundance this year”.

椰子 / ye zi / coconut — The florescent strands of pink, pale yellow, and mint green are dyed ribbons of coconut. Coconut represents strong familial ties because 椰 is pronounced like 爷 / ye / grandfather and 子/ zi represents the grandchildren. These colored versions are more common in Vietnamese culture than Chinese culture, but they can usually be spotted at a Chinese market.

芝麻酥糖 / zi maa sou tong / sesame candy — Eating sweets and candies brings a sweet start to the year. These traditional candies combine the fragrance of 芝麻 / zi maa / sesame seeds with the crunch of sugary caramel. Sometimes, other nuts like 花生 / fa sang / peanuts are mixed in. Sesame represents prosperity, while peanuts are the symbolism of health and longevity, since 生 / sang means life.

There’s another horse homonym at play here, too — 麻 / maa sounds like 馬 / maa.

蓮子 / leen zi / lotus seed — The most common meaning associated with the lotus seed is to be blessed with many sons. 蓮 / leen sounds like 年 / leen and 子 / zi represents children, so together they become “every year have sons”. Chinese tradition places high value on offspring, especially male ones. However, lotus seeds have come to symbolize family bonds more generally.

柑橘 / gam gwat / mandarin orange — Mandarins are often gifted fresh with stems and leaves, but occasionally they’ll be sliced and dried into candy form. 柑 / gam sounds like 金 / gam / gold, making mandarins the most common symbol for wealth and fortune and prosperity.

冬瓜 / dung gwaa / wintermelon — The light green slices of candied wintermelon have a subtle fragrance and a delicate, crystalline, almost melt-in-the-mouth texture. Because the shape of the whole wintermelon is consistent from top to bottom, it symbolizes a good year from beginning to end.

瓜子 / gwaa zi / melon seeds — Last but not least are the red seeds of melons, one of the most traditional (if less appreciated) items in the tray. 子 / zi represents children, though seeds themselves universally symbolize fertility. When dyed red, the seeds also represent joy, happiness, and luck.