Spring Festival, also known as Chinese New Year or the Lunar New Year, is the most important festival in China. It marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar, and this year falls on Jan. 25.

Traditionally, Spring Festival lasts for 16 days from Chinese New Year's Eve until the Lantern Festival, but nowadays people in China generally celebrate over seven days. 

During the holiday, people get to relax with their families, enjoy sumptuous meals and have fun together. A lot of care and thought is put into the dishes eaten during this time. However, the sheer size of the country means that cooking methods and dishes vary a lot between different regions. Generally though, most people believe that New Year dishes should all have one thing in common – they should have auspicious connotations.

Here are 10 of the most popular foods found on the dinner table during Spring Festival, each with positive connotations. China.org.cn wishes all our readers a happy New Year and good luck for 2020.

# Fish

In China, fish symbolizes an increase or surplus in wealth and prosperity. It is served complete with head and tail, and is usually either braised or steamed. In some regions, people will cook a whole fish, but only eat half to further symbolize surplus.