Chinese wedding banquets are known for their carefully curated dishes, each carrying an auspicious meaning rooted in homonyms, traditions, and symbolism. The choices aren’t random—each dish is selected to bless the marriage and future generations. Across China and other Asian communities, minor differences in dishes reflect regional traditions, but key elements remain universally significant.
The “must-have” items at a traditional Chinese wedding banquet include roast suckling pig, fish, and chicken. Roast suckling pig traditionally symbolizes the bride’s purity, while whole chicken with its head intact represents unity in marriage, completeness, and togetherness, resembling the phoenix, which is often associated with the bride. Fish signifies abundance and prosperity, frequently served at celebratory gatherings.
Seafood is also customary, with dishes like abalone, sea cucumber, and crab claws reflecting luxury and abundance, ideal for marking this significant occasion. Crab claws in particular are often paired with sweet and sour sauce, which sounds like the Cantonese word for “grandchildren,” reinforcing wishes for future generations.
Desserts, though simple, hold deep meaning. Red bean soup, typically served with lotus seeds and lily bulbs, symbolizes fertility and lasting love, with lotus seeds standing for children and lily bulbs symbolizing longevity and togetherness. Even petits fours carry meaning; in Cantonese, the word for petits fours sounds like “perfect pair,” emphasizing a harmonious marriage.
The attention to even numbers throughout the banquet signifies the union of two people and two families. Dishes are served in pairs, even if the table isn’t evenly seated. For example, chefs ensure even numbers of ingredients like slices of roast pig skin or types of clams in dishes. Likewise, rice and noodles, both starchy staples, appear in pairs at the meal’s end.
Fruit, traditionally offered as a farewell gift, also aligns with auspicious choices. Forbidden fruits include apples, pears, and nashi pears, as their names sound like “separation” in Chinese. Instead, citrus fruits, representing good fortune and happiness, are a safe choice for weddings.
Modern adaptations, such as wedding favors, are slowly replacing some traditions, yet the symbolic dishes and even-numbered servings persist, preserving blessings and good fortune for newlyweds.
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