History of Yee Sang
The Legend Behind Yee Sang
According to Chinese legend, the goddess Nu Wa spent six days creating animals out of mud, while on the seventh she created humanity.
Ren Ri, the Day of Humankind, is correspondingly celebrated on the seventh day of Chinese New Year. To celebrate this day, the Chinese enjoy a special dish comprising seven symbolic delicacies which we know as Yee Sang.
When Yee Sang is eaten, the ritual is to toss the mixed ingredients high in the air with a shout of "Loh Hey" which literally means to ‘move upwards’. It is symbolic of the wish for our fortunes to rise and expand during the forthcoming year.
Yee Sang, A Symbol of Prosperity
In celebration of the Chinese lunar calendar’s most important festival, Chinese New Year, numerous dishes from different origins are savoured. Yee Sang is one such traditional dish. It is symbolic of good luck, prosperity, health and all things auspicious.
Yee Sang comprises thin slices of pickled vegetables and other ingredients which are mixed together thoroughly when the dish is eaten. The taste of the dish is enhanced by its special sauce which imparts a distinctive flavour.
The popular custom is for all round the dining table to toss the ingredients high in the air with joyful exclamations of "Loh Hey" (toss high). The significance of the tossing is to wish for abundant luck and happiness for all. The enjoyment of Yee Sang during Chinese New Year is an age-old custom steeped in ancient tradition and culture.
