Lo Hei Festival 2025: Prosperity Toss Traditions & Wishes

Lo Hei Festival 2025: The Tradition of Prosperity Toss

The Lo Hei Festival, also known as the Prosperity Toss, is one of the most exciting and symbolic traditions of Chinese New Year in Singapore, Malaysia, and other parts of Southeast Asia. This festive practice involves tossing Yusheng (鱼生)—a colorful raw fish salad—while shouting auspicious phrases to attract wealth, happiness, and success in the coming year.

As we welcome Lo Hei 2025, let’s explore the meaning of this lively and joyful custom, the best times, and regional traditions.

Want to learn more about the Lunar New Year? Explore our Complete Guide to Lunar New Year Traditions and Celebrations for detailed insights!"

What is Lo Hei? The Meaning Behind the Toss

The term "Lo Hei" (捞起) means "tossing up" or "rising prosperity" in Cantonese. It is a widely practiced Chinese New Year tradition where families, friends, and colleagues gather to toss Yusheng while wishing for good fortune and success.

The Symbolism Behind the Ingredients:

Each ingredient in Yusheng represents a blessing for the new year:

• Raw Fish (Salmon, 生鱼) – Shēng Yú (生鱼) sounds like "abundance every year" (年年有余).
• Carrots (红萝卜) – Symbolizes good luck and prosperity.
• Green Radish (青萝卜) – Represents eternal youth.
• White Radish (白萝卜) – Signifies career growth and success.
• Golden Crackers (脆饼) – Resemble gold bars, symbolizing wealth.
• Peanut Crumbs (花生粉) – Represents prosperity and stability.
• Plum Sauce (酸梅酱) – Adds sweetness, representing a harmonious and happy life.
• Lime Juice (酸柑汁) – Encourages smooth sailing in the year ahead.

How to Perform the Lo Hei Toss:

1. Gather around the table with family, friends, or colleagues.
2. Add ingredients one by one while reciting auspicious phrases.
3. Use chopsticks to toss the salad high, chanting "Lo Hei!" or "Huat Ah!" (Prosperity!).
4. The higher the toss, the more luck and success you are believed to receive.

Fun Fact:

Four Cantonese chefs popularized the modern version of Lo Hei in Singapore in the 1960s, making it a widespread Lunar New Year tradition.

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The Best Time to Perform Lo Hei During Chinese New Year

While Lo Hei can be performed throughout the Chinese New Year period, certain days are considered especially auspicious:

Key Dates for Lo Hei 2025:

• Chinese New Year’s Eve (January 28, 2025) – Best for welcoming prosperity into the new year.
• Chinese New Year Day (January 29, 2025) – A perfect time for family reunions and blessings.
• Ren Ri (人日) – February 4, 2025 (Everyone’s Birthday!) – The 7th day of the Lunar New Year is the most symbolic time for Lo Hei, as it celebrates the birth of all humans.
• Throughout the First 15 Days of CNY – Many businesses, families, and friends continue to do Lo Hei for continued good luck.

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Lo Hei Across Southeast Asia: Singapore, Malaysia, and Beyond

1. Singapore 🇸🇬 – The Ultimate Lo Hei Destination

• It is a must-have tradition in family gatherings, corporate dinners, and business meetings.
• Restaurants offer luxurious Yusheng platters featuring premium ingredients like abalone, lobster, and caviar.

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2. Malaysia 🇲🇾 – A Festive Corporate and Family Tradition

• Malaysian Yusheng includes unique variations, such as spicy sambal sauces and tropical fruits.
• Major celebrations take place in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru.

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3. Hong Kong 🇭🇰 – A Growing Trend

• Traditionally, Lo Hei was not part of Hong Kong’s Cantonese culture, but it has gained popularity.
• Upscale restaurants and corporate gatherings now feature Yusheng tosses.

4. Indonesia 🇮🇩 – A Corporate Must-Have

• Many Chinese-Indonesian businesses host Lo Hei lunches to bless their employees and customers.
• The tradition is especially popular in Jakarta and Medan.

5. Vietnam 🇻🇳 – Inspired by Chinese Customs

• In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Chinese-Vietnamese communities have adopted Lo Hei as part of Lunar New Year banquets.
• Some restaurants now offer Vietnamese-style Yusheng with local ingredients.

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Lo Hei Greetings for a Prosperous Chinese New Year

Here are some traditional, modern, and dialect-specific Lo Hei greetings to wish your loved ones abundance, success, and happiness in the new year!

Traditional Lo Hei Blessings for Wealth and Success

During Lo Hei, each ingredient in Yusheng represents a different blessing, and reciting them as they are added enhances the prosperity of the toss. Here are some classic blessings to say while tossing:

🧧 Common Prosperity Wishes:

• 恭喜发财 (Gōng xǐ fā cái) – Wishing you prosperity and wealth!
• 财源广进 (Cái yuán guǎng jìn) – May money flow in abundantly!
• 大吉大利 (Dà jí dà lì) – Wishing you great luck and success!
• 年年有余 (Nián nián yǒu yú) – May you have abundance every year!
• 一本万利 (Yī běn wàn lì) – May your investments bring ten thousand returns!

🍊 Ingredient-Specific Blessings:

• 生意兴隆 (Shēng yì xīng lóng) – May your business flourish! (Said when adding raw fish, symbolizing abundance)
• 鸿运当头 (Hóng yùn dāng tóu) – May good luck be with you! (Said when adding carrots, representing blessings of fortune)
• 风生水起 (Fēng shēng shuǐ qǐ) – May your career rise like the wind and water! (Said when adding white radish, symbolizing career progress)
• 金银满屋 (Jīn yín mǎn wū) – May your home be filled with gold and silver! (Said when adding golden crackers, symbolizing wealth)

✨ Tossing the Yusheng:

• 捞起！捞起！(Lāo qǐ! Lāo qǐ!) – Toss it high for great prosperity!
• 越捞越高 (Yuè lāo yuè gāo) – The higher you toss, the greater your fortune!

Modern Lo Hei Wishes for Family and Friends

While traditional blessings remain popular, many personalize Lo Hei greetings to make them more meaningful and fun for family, friends, and colleagues.

💖 Lo Hei Wishes for Family:

• "May this year bring joy, good health, and endless blessings to our family!"
• "Tossing up happiness, love, and togetherness for another wonderful year ahead!"
• "May our home be filled with laughter, prosperity, and warmth in the coming year!"

🎉 Lo Hei Greetings for Friends:

• "Wishing you a year filled with fun, adventure, and great success!"
• "May we continue to grow, achieve, and celebrate together!"
• "Here’s to good times, great memories, and an amazing year ahead!"

🏆 Lo Hei Messages for Career & Business:

• "May your career rise to new heights like this toss!"
• "Wishing you big deals, wins, and prosperity in the new year!"
• "Success is in the air—let’s toss our way to new opportunities and wealth!"

😂 Fun and Playful Lo Hei Greetings:

• "The higher we toss, the bigger our bank accounts this year!"
• "May our wallets be as full as this Yusheng platter!"
• "More tossing, less working—let’s prosper effortlessly this year!"

Lo Hei Greetings in Different Chinese Dialects

Lo Hei is celebrated across different Chinese communities, and each dialect has its unique prosperity phrases:

🏮 Cantonese (广府话 / 粤语) Lo Hei Blessings:

• 恭喜发财 (Gung hei faat choi) – Wishing you prosperity and wealth!
• 财源滚滚 (Coi jyun gwan gwan) – May wealth roll in endlessly!
• 捞起捞起 (Lōu héi lōu héi) – Toss it up for great fortune!

🐉 Hokkien (福建话) Lo Hei Greetings:

• Huat ah! (发啊!) – Prosperity ah! (A popular phrase used when tossing Yusheng!)
• Keh ho eh liu ho! (家好业流好!) – May your family and business thrive!
• Jiak dua dua liap! (吃大大粒!) – May your blessings be as big as your fortune!

🐯 Teochew (潮州话) Prosperity Wishes:

• Kong Hí Huat Tsâi (恭喜发财) – Wishing you great fortune and prosperity!
• Guâ tsē kiâh, tsē hô hāng (越捞越高) – The higher you toss, the greater your success!
• Chun lâng khì lâm bêng (全年兴隆) – Wishing you success all year round!

🎎 Mandarin (普通话) Popular Lo Hei Phrases:

• 财源滚滚 (Cái yuán gǔn gǔn) – May your wealth flow in continuously!
• 事业腾飞 (Shì yè téng fēi) – May your career soar!
• 福寿双全 (Fú shòu shuāng quán) – May you have both fortune and longevity!

Must-Know Lo Hei Phrases to Make Your Toss More Meaningful

The Step-by-Step Lo Hei Chant: What to Say and When

1️⃣ Pour in Raw Fish – 年年有余 (Abundance every year!)
2️⃣ Drizzle Plum Sauce – 甜甜蜜蜜 (May your life be sweet!)
3️⃣ Add Carrots – 鸿运当头 (Good luck ahead!)
4️⃣ Add Green Radish – 青春常驻 (Eternal youth!)
5️⃣ Sprinkle Golden Crackers – 金银满屋 (House full of wealth!)
6️⃣ Toss the Salad – 捞起捞起! (Toss high for prosperity!)

Final Thoughts

As Lo Hei 2025 approaches, it’s time to gather your loved ones, raise your chopsticks, and toss for success! Whether you celebrate in Singapore, Malaysia, or beyond, this joyous and meaningful tradition brings people together in laughter, unity, and good fortune.

🥢✨ Huat Ah! May your year be filled with prosperity and happiness! 🏮🎉