年夜饭 /nián yè fàn/ Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner
年夜饭，又称年晚饭、团年饭、团圆饭等，特指年尾除夕（春节前一天）的阖家聚餐。在外工作的人都会在除夕来临之前回老家和家人团聚。中国人的年夜饭是家人的团圆聚餐，这顿饭是年尾对一家人来说最重要的一顿晚餐。
年夜饭是每年新年前的重头戏，不但丰富多彩，而且讲究很多寓意。传统上年夜饭是在除夕祭祖后才食用，吃年夜饭前先拜神祭祖，待拜祭仪式完毕后才开饭等。
习俗意义
春节是中国民间最隆重、最热闹的传统节日。春节习俗甚多，而一年一次的年夜饭充分地表现出中华民族家庭成员的互敬互爱，这种互敬互爱使一家人之间的关系更为紧密。家人的团聚往往令”一家之主”在精神上得到安慰与满足，老人家看儿孙满堂，一家大小共叙天伦，过去的关怀与抚养子女所付出的心血而没有白费，这是何等的幸福，而年轻一辈也正可以借此机会向父母的养育之恩来表达感激之情。事实上随着时代的进步，这种古老的传统也面临着严峻的挑战，众多迫于生活压力不得不选择过年不回家这也可能使年夜饭成为了空谈。
一年一次的年夜饭，是全家都要动员的大餐，家家户户都会摆上平日里很少见的，或是寓意吉祥的菜品：席上一般有鸡（寓意有计）、鱼类（寓意年年有余）、汤圆（寓意团团圆圆）、莲藕（寓意聪明）等菜品以求新年吉利。这也是对来年美好生活的期许。年夜饭，吃的是喜悦，品的是亲情，缕缕饭香中闻到的是家的味道。一年一度的年夜饭对中国人是极其重要的，一家老小互敬互爱、共叙天伦，围坐餐桌旁，倍感幸福。
New Year’s Eve dinner, also known as New Year’s dinner, reunion dinner, reunion dinner, etc., especially refers to the family dinner at the end of the year on New Year’s Eve (the day before the Spring Festival). People who work outside the home will go back to their hometowns to reunite with their families before New Year’s Eve. The Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner is a family reunion dinner. This meal is the most important dinner for the family at the end of the year.
The New Year’s Eve dinner is the highlight before the New Year every year. It is not only colorful, but also has many meanings. Traditionally, the New Year’s Eve dinner is eaten after worshiping ancestors on New Year’s Eve. Before eating the New Year’s Eve dinner, worship gods and ancestors first, and then start eating after the worship ceremony.
Customary Meaning
The Spring Festival is the most solemn and lively traditional festival among Chinese people. There are many Spring Festival customs, and the annual New Year’s Eve dinner fully demonstrates the mutual respect and love among Chinese family members. This mutual respect and love makes the relationship between the family closer. The reunion of the family often makes the “head of the family” feel spiritually comforted and satisfied. The elderly see their children and grandchildren in the house, and the whole family talks about family affairs. The past care and efforts in raising the children have not been in vain. What a blessing it is, and The younger generation can also take this opportunity to express their gratitude to their parents for their upbringing. In fact, with the progress of the times, this ancient tradition is also facing severe challenges. Many people have to choose not to go home during the New Year due to the pressure of life, which may also make the New Year’s Eve dinner an empty talk.
The annual New Year’s Eve dinner is a feast for the whole family. Every household will serve dishes that are rarely seen on weekdays or that have auspicious meanings: there are usually chickens (meaning good luck) and fish (meaning new year). Dishes such as glutinous rice balls (meaning reunion), lotus root (meaning wisdom) are used to bring good luck in the new year. This is also an expectation for a better life in the coming year. During the New Year’s Eve dinner, what you eat is joy, what you taste is family affection, and what you smell in the aroma of the rice is the taste of home. The annual New Year’s Eve dinner is extremely important to the Chinese people. The whole family respects and loves each other, talks about family affairs, and feels happy sitting around the dining table.