Chinese New Year, the Spring Festival that celebrates the New Year — according to the lunisolar calendar — takes place this Thursday. You can enjoy the holiday by witnessing traditional lion dances, fireworks and awe-inspiring lantern displays. Eating some of the holiday’s staple foods will only make your celebration more delicious. Here are some dishes that are sure to make your mouth water and possibly bring you good luck in the New Year.

Dumplings

Everyone’s favorite dish at Chinese restaurants carries great significance during the New Year. Dumplings contain meat, fish or vegetables and are surrounded by a doughy skin that can be baked, boiled, fried or steamed. For the holiday, it is traditional to eat them with cabbage and radishes, and eating plenty of them is said to bring about wealth and treasure in the New Year.

Noodles

Noodles are a must-have dish on your New Year’s table this February. The long noodles can be fried or boiled, and they are said to bring about long, plentiful lives. There is a catch, however — the noodles can’t be cut, as bad luck is sure to arise when they are shortened.

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are another famous favorite that hold great importance in the Chinese New Year. It is said that the fried, crispy rolls, which are filled with veggies or meat, lead to prosperity and wealth in the New Year. Eating them is supposed to result in a ton of gold, a belief thought to come from the fact that the rolls resemble gold bars.

Sweet Rice Balls

These sweet, boiled balls of rice. flour and water — often filled with sesame paste, beans or peanuts — are eaten to promote reunions and togetherness. Their round shape signifies harmony and unity, two values essential to celebrating with your family or friends.

If you want to experience any of these delicious dishes, you can take a trip to Buddha Bodai in Chinatown, Cafe Evergreen on the Upper East Side, or Red Farm or Grand Sichuan in the West Village. 

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, Feb. 17 print edition. Email Avia at [email protected].