Good Fortune Fruit: Lucky Picks for Lunar New Year

For centuries, fruit has played a central role in Lunar New Year celebrations in China and other Asian countries. According to a recent Time article:

Since at least the Qing dynasty, Chinese parents would place fruits like mandarin oranges, lychees, dates, or persimmons beside the pillows of their children, along with red envelopes containing money under the pillow, to ward off folkloric monsters. The children would then eat the fruits upon waking up the next morning.

Nowadays, a wide assortment of good fortune fruits are associated with the holiday, from sweet, juicy mandarins to eye-catching dragon fruits. Each carries a special meaning. Similarly, the ways we consume, gift, and exchange them signify wishes and hopes for the new year. 

January 2025 kicks off the Year of the Wood Snake—the sixth season in the Chinese zodiac—symbolizing a time of transformation. To start your own Lunar New Year transformation, use our guide below to learn more about some of the most popular fruits for the holiday. Then choose your favorites and grab them fast—this year’s Lunar New Year celebration runs from Wednesday, January 29–Wednesday, February 12.

Apples

An apple a day keeps misfortune away! To invite peace, safety, and calm, lay out a platter of apples during the holiday. Many people attribute these qualities to the crisp bright fruit because the word for “apple” in Cantonese sounds similar to the word for “peace.” You can mix and match colors to give your spread extra significance: green represents wealth and red represents abundance.

Mandarins, Oranges, and Tangerines

Known as a harbinger of good luck, juicy, tangy citrus fruits are Lunar New Year go-tos for many. Loved ones commonly exchange mandarins, oranges, and tangerines—but only in pairs. Even numbers are associated with good luck, while odd numbers are thought to bring bad vibes. Because they represent happiness, wealth, and positive wishes, people often display citrus prominently in their homes. Some even roll mandarins over their thresholds to encourage prosperity.

Dragon Fruits

Mildly sweet and boasting bold, beautiful colors speckled with seeds, dragon fruits represent good luck. Given their spectacular hues and unique looks, dragon fruits are perfect vessels for creativity, so grab a few and experiment. Carve your good fortune fruits into different designs, serve them raw, or incorporate them into a recipe. A dragon fruit smoothie is a lucky way to start the day!

Cherries

In many places, a bowl bursting with bright cherries is a cheery harbinger of prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead—and because red often signifies luck, they’re a common gift during this time of year. Not sure how to pit these petite fruits? Find a guide here.

Kumquats

The tiny, sweet kumquat packs a lot of tradition into a little package. The name “kumquat” is loosely based on the Cantonese characters for gum (meaning “gold”), and gat (meaning “orange”), so it’s natural that they invoke wealth and prosperity in addition to luck. Kumquats are quite versatile, perfect as a snack or in everything from marmalades to four-star sauces.

Persimmons

If your wish is for wishes to come true (and prosperity), persimmons are the perfect Lunar New Year gift to give and receive. In Vietnamese culture, they make a beautiful addition to the traditional Lunar New Year centerpiece, known as mâm ngũ quả. Eat them raw straight off the plate (they get sweeter as they ripen), or incorporate them into desserts or condiments.

Pineapples

The pineapple’s golden hue makes it a natural symbol of wealth. Perhaps even more auspicious, the Chinese word for “pineapple”—ong lai—sounds similar to the Hokkien phrase for “good luck comes.” Many people offer such wishes by gifting their loved ones pineapple tarts, like this one, or similar treats like pineapple balls. Others invite prosperity by decorating their homes with pineapples, or even decorating the pineapples themselves.

Pomelos

Pomelos (or pummelos) ripen just before the Lunar New Year as families gather for the holiday so they’re closely associated with family unity. Similarly, the Mandarin word for pomelo—youzi—sounds similar to the word for “have,” thus inviting prosperity. While pomelos invite good auspices in, they also keep the bad ones out. Many people believe that the fruit’s strong citrus smell can ward off evil.

Whew, that’s a lot of good fortune fruit! Luckily, you’re free to mix and match or simply choose your favorites for your students, coworkers, or family. No matter which fruit(s) you pick, you’ll be giving the gifts of luck and abundance for the days to come.