Chinese food culture is full of these symbolic associations. Fish, for example, are closely linked with abundance because the word for fish, yú, sounds like the word associated with surplus. Dumplings can evoke wealth because of their resemblance to ancient Chinese gold and silver ingots. Glutinous rice cakes, meanwhile, are associated with rising fortunes and progress. The same principle applies to noodles. The food is ordinary; the meaning attached to it is not.
This is one reason Chinese festive meals can feel almost like a language of symbols. The shape, sound, colour and even the way a food is served can carry a message.
