My favourite Chinese New Year tradition is the Lo Sahng (in Cantonese) or Yu Sheng (in Mandarin), which translates to ‘Prosperity Toss’. It’s a salad made with raw fish, shredded vegetables, and a variety of sauces and condiments. It’s a complex dish with lots of ingredients and with each one holding a specific meaning.
Once the salad is ready, all diners at the table stand up and use their chopsticks to toss the ingredients on the platter whilst shouting “auspicious wishes” for the year ahead. Things like “good health” and “abundance” can often be heard alongside “happy new year”.
I’ve participated in three Lo Sahngs already this year, and I love sharing that moment with family and friends—it’s one that always makes us laugh and puts us in good spirits.
When I was a kid, I used to look at my mum making the Lo Sahng and wonder why she bothered with all the effort.
Now I realise traditions are special precisely because they require effort.