Yusheng? Lo hei? Tossing for prosperity? Here's what it means and how to do it right. Huat ah!
A Chinese New Year feast without yusheng? Blasphemous. It goes by many names, but the “prosperity toss” is an important tradition during CNY. And it’s pretty unique to Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia (although we lay claim to its invention). Just remember: yusheng usually refers to the dish itself and lo hei is the act of tossing the ingredients. The salad is typically a mix of fresh fish, which symbolises abundant fortune, and colourful vegetables, which represent prosperity. These ingredients can vary for different yusheng dishes (and may take the shape of the Zodiac animal of the year) but the ritual remains the same. It’s traditionally served at reunion dinners everywhere, but fret not if you’re clueless about lo hei sayings – here’s how to ace it like a pro.
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Posted by Honeycombers on Friday, February 9, 2018
1. Add the raw fish
Saying: Nian Nian You Yu
Meaning: Abundance throughout the year!
2. Add the pomelo
Saying: Da Ji Da Li
Meaning: Good luck and good fortune!
3. Sprinkle spices and seasoning powder
Saying: Zhao Cai Jin Bao
Meaning: Attract wealth and treasures!
4. Drizzle oil over the dish
Saying: Cai Yuan Guang
Meaning: Numerous sources of wealth!
5. Toss in golden pillow crackers
Saying: Man Di Huang Jin
Meaning: Floors full of gold!
6. Drizzle the plum sauce
Saying: Tian Tian Mi Mi
Meaning: Sweet and loving relationships!
7. Now go ahead and toss while shouting “lo hei” or “huat ah” or “gong xi fa cai”.
Remember, the higher you toss, the more luck it brings. P.S. if you’re doing this at home, consider placing plates around the yusheng platter to catch anything that falls, so you don’t have to do a massive clean-up afterwards.
Now you’re ready to welcome good fortune with our guide to lo hei sayings!
