Unraveling the significance of 'fortune' candies during Lunar New Year

A beloved Lunar New Year moment: Loved ones gathered around a vibrant red and gold box, eagerly unwrapping sweets and cracking open nuts.

Though not as widely recognized, these beautifully adorned boxes are just as integral to the celebration as firecrackers and red envelopes.

Each year, families bring these containers out from their storage before the Lunar New Year begins, also known as the Spring Festival, a 15-day celebration starting on the first day of the lunar calendar (January 25, 2020).

It’s that time of year when children are encouraged to indulge in sweets, all in the hopes of welcoming a year filled with prosperity and good fortune.

Hosts must ensure that each compartment of the candy box – typically containing three to nine removable sections – is filled with specific 'fortune' treats, each symbolizing prosperity, joy, and good fortune.

According to Gloria Chan, spokesperson for the Hong Kong Culture Heritage Studies and Promotion Association, 'Cyun hap (LNY candy boxes) have a rich history that stretches back over a thousand years.'

The word 'cyun,' rooted in tradition, means 'to bring together or unite.'

'By placing all the fortune candies together in one box, a cyun hap represents the gathering of good luck and well-wishes for the year ahead,' she explains.

It's important to remember that the term 'candy' is used loosely and can encompass a wide variety of items, from seeds to dried fruits.

Here’s a glimpse at some of the most popular treats found in candy boxes:

Roasted seeds: A symbol of shared fortune

In candy boxes, roasted seeds take the spotlight – eating them is believed to represent the gathering of wealth and good fortune.

'We produce around 70 to 80 tons of seeds annually, with roughly 50 tons typically sold during Lunar New Year,' shares Bao Yiu-wah, promotions manager at Shanghai Luk Kam Kee, Hong Kong’s renowned family-run seed shop.

Shanghai Luk Kam Kee (5 Tai Ho Road, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong) has been selling seeds for over 50 years. The shop now operates three locations in Hong Kong, including a seed-roasting factory.

'A loyal customer visited this morning to buy 30 kilograms of seeds for their friends and family in Singapore and Taiwan,' Bao shares with Dinogo Travel.

'We source our seeds from specially selected farms, where the melons are cultivated specifically for their seeds – not the flesh,' Bao explains.

The seeds are then boiled with various ingredients, from soy sauce to ground coffee beans, to infuse different flavors before being fried until crispy, dry, and aromatic.

'Most of our customers are over 60. Younger generations tend to buy for their parents,' says Bao.

'It would be wonderful if this tradition could continue – nothing beats families gathering around the table, shelling seeds and chatting while awaiting a big feast,' Bao adds.

The essential 8 sweets

A traditional Lunar New Year candy box wouldn't be complete without the 'eight sweets,' a collection of candied fruits and vegetables, including lotus roots, coconut strips, carrots, lotus seeds, coconut wedges, winter melons, kumquats, and water chestnuts.

It’s not about flavor, but pronunciation. The Chinese names for these treats are chosen because they sound similar to words with positive meanings in Mandarin or Cantonese.

For example, the Cantonese word for coconut sounds like the phrase for 'grandfather-son' (ye zi) in both Cantonese and Mandarin.

This symbolizes a strong family connection and the hope for a large, prosperous family.

Alongside the eight sweets, pistachios – affectionately called 'happy nuts' in Cantonese – and sesame balls, known as 'laughing dates,' are favorites due to their smile-like appearance.

Modern twists

Pre-packaged sweets are also gaining popularity.

Western treats, such as Ferrero Rocher and Almond Roca, are especially favored during the Spring Festival for their golden packaging.

'In recent years, there’s been a surge in creative variations of candy boxes – even New York’s Lady M is entering the scene with its own Lunar New Year box in Hong Kong,' says Chan.

Instead of traditional sweets, the modern take from the New York bakery includes gourmet treats like Champagne-infused white chocolate truffles.

'I think these contemporary variations appeal more to younger generations and foreigners. They help newcomers to Lunar New Year traditions understand the deeper meanings behind the celebrations,' says Chan.

Explore the gallery at the top of this article to learn more about the symbolic meanings behind some of the classic candy box treats.