Top 22 Unique Lunar New Year Customs in Asian Countries

New Year's Day for the Sinhalese people in Sri Lanka actually marks the celebration of the harvest. Like many other ethnic groups around the world, the Sinhalese New Year symbolizes bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one. Before the New Year arrives, people rush to finish their work, start cleaning their homes, mend clothes, and prepare food for the New Year's Day. On the eve of the New Year, they perform a ritual to discard all the ashes in the kitchen, preparing the kitchen with new ashes and ensuring water containers are full, believing that carrying water on the eve is the last time of the year, and for the first few days of the New Year, they refrain from carrying water. On the last carrying of water, they toss a branch of mango into the well to bid farewell to the old year. Before the New Year, everyone must bathe to rid themselves of the old. They wash their heads with a special water made from fragrant herbs to cleanse themselves and ensure clean hands from dust. The Sinhalese believe that bathing on the last day of the year can avoid illnesses and bring good luck.

Also on New Year's Eve, they prepare various foods for the feast, mostly made from milk, bananas, and various fruits. Every household spreads new mats on the floor, and all family members gather to enjoy the feast together. On the first day of the New Year, family members bring a bunch of betel leaves to the eldest person in the family, a gesture of gratitude for their parental care throughout the year and an apology for any unintentional disrespect during the year. The Sinhalese consider this a tradition of honoring their elders, using newly harvested rice to cook dishes for the whole family to feast on. They then participate in various games, notably elephant races and drumming festivals. The drumming festival is usually participated in by women, and in areas where Sinhalese people live, every village has a large drum. The girls dance around the drum, simultaneously dancing, and beating the drum with their hands. The competition lasts all night until morning.

Pakistan, a country rich in cultural and geographical diversity, celebrates the New Year with unique customs and traditions across its regions. While the specific rituals may vary, there are common practices observed during the festive days. Every Pakistani carries red-colored powder when stepping out, symbolizing good wishes for the New Year. Upon meeting friends and family, they exchange greetings and apply a red mark on each other's foreheads to convey the message of 'Wishing you a prosperous year ahead.' Additionally, households sprinkle pink powder at their doorsteps with the inscription 'Happy New Year' to invite luck and prosperity.

The majority of Pakistan's population adheres to Islam, thus the New Year traditions are influenced by Islamic customs. On the first day of the year, people start with prayers and special sermons in mosques, seeking peace, stability, and prosperity for their nation. Moreover, globalization has introduced various cultural influences, bringing about changes in the way New Year celebrations are observed in Pakistan. Festive gatherings, musical concerts, cultural programs, and diverse festivals are becoming increasingly popular.

One of the two biggest festivals of the Mongolian people in a year is the Lunar New Year, also known as White Month's New Year. It not only marks the end of a long, harsh winter but also signifies the time for family reunion and strengthening relationships. To prepare for this important day, Mongolians clean their houses, stables, take baths, wear new clothes, to welcome the New Year with freshness. Traditional foods during the White Month's New Year include dairy products, cakes, lamb, beef, horse meat, and rice eaten with sour milk; or rice mixed with dried grapes... Nowadays, the New Year has become a family day, demonstrating respect for the elderly and encouraging young people to learn about the traditions and culture of the Mongolian people. Additionally, it is seen as a day to cheer for livestock herders to survive the harsh winter and to celebrate the warmer days of spring.

Before the New Year's Eve, Mongolian men perform an important ritual of going up to a nearby hill or mountain to pray. After the prayers, each person chooses a direction that aligns with their zodiac sign to set off. This New Year's departure is believed to bring luck to everyone. During the 3 days of the Lunar New Year, Mongolians only wear traditional costumes. People usually gather at the oldest person's house in the area. Then they chat, joke, exchange foods, and enjoy them together. Everyone must welcome the New Year with an optimistic and positive attitude, a kind heart, refraining from thinking and doing bad things. Moreover, debts must be settled before the New Year, and no one is allowed to argue during the New Year days.

Similar to Thailand, the time for celebrating the New Year in Cambodia is from April 14th to 16th on the Gregorian calendar. The Cambodian New Year is held annually just before the rainy season. Right after the harvest season, local people begin preparations for this festival. During this occasion, temples usually hang five-colored flags and white flags with crocodile-shaped Buddha images. Each household sets up an ancestral altar to welcome their ancestors. On the altar, they often light five incense sticks and five candles...

Cambodians believe that celebrating the New Year according to the lunar calendar helps cleanse their spirits and bodies to welcome a better new year. The Cambodian New Year typically lasts for three days. The first day is called Maha Songkran: the day of the gods, where people place prepared offerings in front of their homes in the hope that the gods will come and bring blessings to their homes. On the first day of the new year, everyone in the family sits together in front of the altar, fold their hands, and pray to enjoy blessings. The second day is Virak Wanabat, dedicated to visiting parents and relatives. The third day is Vesak Loeng Sak, a day for bathing Buddha statues and ancestral statues in the family. They choose fresh clothes to go to the temple for ceremonies, listen to monks recite prayers, sprinkle scented water on the Buddha statue, offer delicious cakes to their grandparents to wish them longevity and show filial piety.

The New Year celebration in South Korea starts with everyone wearing traditional attire known as Hanbok. The biggest festival of the year for South Koreans is the Lunar New Year, also known as Seollal - a day to ward off evil spirits, misfortune, and welcome goodness. As the old year passes and the new one arrives, families gather together to perform traditional rituals. The first ritual of the New Year is called Charye, held at the family's ancestral shrine. Family members bow before the ancestral altar to show respect to their ancestors. This is followed by the Sebae ritual. The younger members of the family bow to wish the elderly members a long life, and then receive money as a New Year's blessing from their parents and grandparents. This is the most important ritual on the first day of the New Year for South Koreans.

Notably, the cultural aspect of cuisine during the Korean New Year cannot be overlooked. Food offerings are prepared by families well before the New Year and must be completed by New Year's Eve. The ancestral feast consists of over 20 dishes, with ttok-kuk - a rice cake soup made from beef or chicken and rice cake soup being essential. During the 3-day New Year celebration, South Koreans typically wear traditional attire called Hanbok and engage in various celebratory activities such as dancing, singing, and playing traditional games. On New Year's Day, there is also a straw scoop (known as Bok-jo-ri) placed outside Korean homes, symbolizing scooping up spilled rice for luck throughout the year. After the midday meal is a time for families to gather together, possibly playing yutnori or conversing with different generations in the family. If family members do not live together, according to tradition, younger generations will visit older relatives to wish them a Happy New Year.

If you want to travel and fully experience the atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, Taiwan would be a worthwhile choice. The traditional New Year in Taiwan is also considered one of the biggest festivals of the year. This holiday, also known as Xuân Tiết (Spring Festival), is a time when people visit temples to pray for a new year of peace and happiness. On the New Year's Eve of the Lunar New Year, families often clean their homes, symbolizing sweeping away the misfortunes of the old year. After cleaning, traditional Taiwanese New Year cakes are prepared, symbolizing reaching new heights.

From the second day to the last day of the last month in the lunar calendar is when families put up spring couplets and new year prints on their doors and windows to bring luck. Taiwanese people also favor hanging red paper scrolls in front of their homes. On these scrolls are wishes for a successful new year, prosperity, abundant health, and hope for everyone in the family and society. On the last day of the 12th lunar month in the old year, families gather together to welcome the New Year's Eve. After that, adults give red envelopes, especially to younger members of the family, especially children.

In Vietnam, people celebrate the Lunar New Year, known as Tet Nguyen Dan. This is the most important festival for Vietnamese people throughout the year. Tet is held from the 1st to the 3rd day of the first lunar month. Depending on the twelve zodiac signs, each year corresponds to an animal. Tet is not only a time for people to spend time with family and friends, but also an occasion to show reverence to ancestors. Family members return to their hometowns to reunite and enjoy the cozy atmosphere and flavors of traditional Vietnamese Tet.

Tet Nguyen Dan is such an important festival that preparing for it involves crucial steps. Preparing the five-fruit tray is one of the most essential Tet customs in every Vietnamese family. The five-fruit tray symbolizes the filial piety of descendants towards their ancestors. Each type of fruit symbolizes a different meaning but all bring luck and happiness in the new year. During Tet, Vietnamese people enjoy admiring flowers, with cherry blossoms and apricot blossoms being commonly seen. Each region has different Tet flowers displayed in homes, symbolizing happiness and luck. The northern region usually decorates with cherry blossoms, while the southern region often decorates with apricot blossoms. To make these Tet plants more sparkling and beautiful, they often hang LED lights and red envelopes. In addition, Tet foods such as square cakes, cylindrical sticky rice cakes, candied fruits, ... are indispensable.

Pohela Boishakh is the traditional New Year celebration of the Bengali people. On April 15th every year, cultural commemorative activities are organized throughout the land of Bangladesh. Traditional activities held to celebrate include bull racing in Munshiganj, wrestling in Chittagong, boat races, cockfights, and pigeon races. Pohela Boishakh is the New Year festival of Bangladesh on April 14th. To commemorate this festival, Bengali people greet each other by saying 'Shubho Noboborsho,' meaning 'Happy New Year.'

Pohela Boishakh is observed by spending time with family, attending fairs, cleaning, decorating homes, and buying new clothes. As one year ends, the Bengali community purchases Panjika, a book that records all the important dates in the upcoming new year. All auspicious events including housewarmings, weddings are planned according to Panjika. Homes in Bangladesh are adorned with traditional architectural designs called alpana. Delicious foods eaten on this day include illish maach, dhokar dalma, rice, chanar dal. At the transition moment between the old and new year, people from all walks of life, dressed in colorful attire, participate in fun activities such as singing, playing games, dancing, or joining together in feasts.

Similar to the traditional Tet in Vietnam, Losar is one of the most important festivals of Bhutan and is celebrated with great reverence according to the lunar calendar. Losar falls in either February or March, depending on the lunar calendar. Losar lasts for 15 days, and the first three days of the new year are considered the most important for the people of Bhutan. On the last day of the old year, families in Bhutan are busy cleaning their homes and offering various foods, fruits on the ancestral altar to thank the spirits and ancestors for providing them with a prosperous life in the past year…

During the three days of the Lunar New Year, people celebrate according to traditional customs. One of these unique customs is participating in archery competitions. Men across the land of Bhutan try to hit targets from different distances of up to 100 meters while women dance and cheer for everyone participating. Every village in Bhutan organizes archery competitions for the New Year festivals. Each commemorative day begins with a traditional breakfast and prayer ceremony at home. Villagers offer food on the altar and pray at local temples. People also spend time relaxing with their families and friends.

Celebrating Lunar New Year, similar to Vietnam, in Singapore, during Tet days, the Spring Festival takes place with three prominent events: the Lantern Festival, the Singapore River Hongbao Festival, and the Chingay Parade, along with many other activities. Among them, the most vibrant and crowded event is the Chingay Parade, which usually starts on the first Saturday of the new year at Marina Bay and ends on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This activity attracts many tourists and locals to participate in the street parade.

The term Chingay in Chinese means 'the art of costume and makeup.' This is a unique activity for Singaporeans to both enjoy and strengthen the unity among the local ethnicities with ethnic communities worldwide. For Singaporeans, the 'mandarin orange' is considered a symbol of happiness and luck because when the word 'orange' is pronounced, it sounds like 'wealth' in Chinese. Therefore, on Tet days, they invite guests as well as family members to eat oranges as a silent wish for each other's luck and happiness. In addition to oranges, Singaporeans also love to eat 'fish' because this word sounds like 'surplus' when pronounced in Chinese, symbolizing abundance and prosperity in the new year.

The water festival Thingyan this year starts from April 13th and lasts until April 16th. Therefore, the New Year of Myanmar people will begin on April 17th. Thingyan means change. Cula Thingyan is a small change that occurs monthly, while Maha Thingyan is a big change that occurs once a year. This is the time when many Myanmar people choose to start a new life and leave behind the misfortunes of the previous year. The opening ceremony of the water festival is held in a lively atmosphere with the participation of traditional Myanmar dance troupes in colorful costumes with the characteristic music of Thingyan.

The Thingyan water festival is the most important event among the 12 annual festivals in Myanmar. People believe that the festival will bring peace and prosperity. During the festivals, buildings and temples are cleaned, and people throw water at each other. This partly symbolizes welcoming the upcoming heavy rains. Myanmar people hold the traditional Thingyan water festival to welcome the new year like New Year celebrations in other Southeast Asian countries such as Songkran in Laos and Thailand, as well as Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia. During this festival, people splash water on each other to wash away all the sins and moral offenses of the previous year.

Unlike South Korea, where people struggle to get train tickets or endure traffic jams to return home for the Seollal holiday every year, North Korea does not have such a massive migration. They simply use that holiday to stay at home, with their loved ones. The New Year in North Korea is called Seol. But like other Asian countries, during the early days of the new year, North Koreans also have special rituals to commemorate their ancestors. After the New Year blessings, children rush out to play together; boys fly kites and play tops while girls play seesaw or jump rope. Indoors, adults play cards or traditional Korean games. The New Year in North Korea is a time for people to gather together with their families.

Both South Koreans and North Koreans have the custom of setting up a dining table, performing sebae or bowing ceremony, and wishing each other luck in the new year. However, a relatively new custom has emerged in North Korea. During the Lunar New Year, North Koreans often visit relatives, teachers, friends, or go to lay flowers at the statue of the late Chairman Kim Il-sung and take photos there. This is considered a way to show respect for the former leader of North Korea. While South Koreans enjoy eating rice cake soup on the first day of the new year, North Koreans prefer to eat songpyeon, a type of rice cake molded into a crescent moon shape, representing the belief in 'The moon wanes and waxes' as their lives continually change and evolve.

The New Year celebration of the Laotian people is called Bunpimay (or Tết “Tying the wrist”, the festival “Scooping Water” – Pouring water to wish for a fruitful life, budding, and blooming). During these days, Laotians pay great attention to eating lap, especially businessmen. In Lao language, lap symbolizes prosperity and is considered the soul of Laotian people in the new year. Lap can be exchanged as New Year greetings, and the more lap one receives, the more luck is hoped for in the new year. Lap is usually made from fresh chicken or beef mixed with spices. Particularly, lap without toasted rice powder would diminish its unique flavor.

Especially for those in business, lap is often meticulously prepared by chefs, as its taste is believed to affect business success in the new year. On the day of the Laotian New Year, it is customary to give cloth and towels to the elderly. During the day, people go to temples to pray, while in the evening, they gather at the temple for entertainment, traditional music performances (morlam), and circle dancing. Laotians use flowers on New Year's Day to seek good fortune, with two types of flowers: Dok Champa (plumeria, frangipani) is placed on vehicles and adorned in houses, while Dok Muong (golden shower tree) is made into bouquets or worn in the hair to wish for blessings.

Chinese traditional New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the most significant holiday in China. Starting from the 12th of the 12th lunar month, people from China around the world return home to celebrate the New Year, reuniting with family, enjoying delicious meals, and paying respects to their ancestors throughout the festive period, which extends until the 15th of the 1st lunar month. During the New Year, Chinese people typically decorate their homes with red couplets, red lanterns, red paper cuttings, and set off firecrackers, hoping for a joyous celebration and a peaceful new year.

Arriving in China during the Spring Festival, travelers will find themselves surrounded by the color red - the color of lanterns, couplets, traditional clothing, and lucky red envelopes... On New Year's Day, Chinese people gather to prepare delicious meals for ancestor worship. Each year in the Chinese zodiac corresponds to an animal, and it's customary to avoid eating meat from that animal at the beginning of the year. The menu on Chinese New Year mostly consists of various types of cakes. Notably, there's the New Year cake (Nian Gao), made from good quality glutinous rice, sugar, and a hint of fresh ginger.

As the new year approaches, every Japanese family holds a gathering called Bonenkai (farewell to the old year) to let go of worries and sorrows, welcoming the new year. During these days, every family cleans their house meticulously, decorating both inside and outside with items made from pine, bamboo, and plum branches. It is believed that seeing the sunrise on this day is the best way to welcome a prosperous, lucky, and beautiful new year. Traditionally, in the first days of the year, people must visit a shrine or a temple. Japanese people believe that no one should carry debts from the old year to the new year, and everyone must repay debts to ensure a smooth and prosperous new year. On New Year's Eve, people often eat toshikoshi soba (buckwheat noodles), symbolizing a healthy and long life.

Another important dish is Mochi cakes, typically eaten with Ozoni soup. Offerings are arranged on a small table, usually including Omochi, dried persimmons, dried chestnuts, pine nuts, black beans, fish, shrimp, octopus, Mochibana, oranges, and various other items depending on the region. Toshikoshi soba is always consumed during the New Year in Japan. As the new year begins, family members traditionally pay respects on the first morning of the year at home. On New Year's Day, Japanese people never forget a tradition: sending New Year's greeting cards to friends and relatives on January 1st. However, in Japan, there is a tradition where young women go out to gather various non-toxic plants in the first few days of the year, then on the 7th day of the Lunar New Year, the host will cook them with rice for a special breakfast on that day. Japanese New Year holidays typically last for 2 weeks, longer than in our country.

Nepal is one of the countries with the most festivals in the world. There are up to 120 festival days in a year, mostly religious festivals. Each festival often lasts for weeks or even a month. Almost every day, the city of Kathmandu is filled with the atmosphere of festivals. April 9th marks the beginning of the Bisket festival in Nepal, lasting for 9 days with the presence of two Hindu deities pulling a chariot through the city of Bhaktapur to seek luck in the New Year. The chariot of the deity Bhairab is pulled through the center of Bhaktapur city, near the capital of Nepal, during the Bisket festival on April 9th. This 9-day festival takes place in Nepal's New Year, during which devotees attempt to pull the chariot to various points in the city, and the winner will be blessed in the New Year.

In the festival considered as the New Year of the Nepalese, the images of the god Bhairava and a replica of the goddess Bhadrakali are placed in two large chariots and pulled to a wide square, to seek luck in the new year. The celebration of the New Year in Nepal takes place with many different fun activities including street dances, parades, and various performances. These activities are enthusiastically participated in and sponsored by many individuals and organizations. It's a time when all of Nepal rejoices with colorful decorations. Additionally, you can also attend various festivals in Timi or Bode.

In Indonesia, the New Year is called Tahun Baru Masehi, usually celebrated on January 1st every year. This is considered a significant national holiday, so everyone has days off on these occasions. On New Year's days, people enjoy spending time with family and friends. It's a holiday, so cinemas and restaurants are usually crowded. People engage in activities, dining out, and visiting famous landmarks in the city. In the evenings, many people go to bars and nightclubs to enjoy the lively atmosphere with friends. On New Year's, people also take the opportunity to go shopping. Major shopping districts are bustling with people who come to buy new clothes and items, as it's believed to bring about a fresh start. Indonesians also prepare offerings and set up ancestral altars on New Year's Eve. Offerings mainly consist of cakes and fruits.

In Indonesia, it's believed that on New Year's Eve, all lights in the house must be kept on throughout the night. If the house remains dark, the future spirits will not see anything and will not visit their family. Many families also visit temples to light candles and pray to deities like Kwan Im, the goddess of love and luck. Most temples in Indonesia are open on New Year's Eve. Many candles are lit in temples because it's believed to signify a bright future. At midnight, fireworks are set off everywhere. This action is to drive away evil spirits and sins, but also to add to the excitement of the New Year celebration. Traditionally, at this moment, families open windows and main doors to bid farewell to the old year and welcome luck into their homes in the new year. If you visit Indonesia during the lunar New Year, don't be surprised if someone greets you with the phrase: 'Selamat Hari Raya.' This greeting means wishing you a happy festival and is used in all major festive occasions.

Another fascinating country is Malaysia. In this country, to prepare for the Lunar New Year, people have to fast for a few days before the festival and also refrain from buying too much food to show empathy for the poor and hungry countries. In Malaysia, the Malays make up about 60% of the population, and their festivals are highly regarded, especially two festivals: Hari Raya Haji and Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Hari Raya Haji falls on the 10th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. This festival is aimed at pilgrims returning to their homeland. Malays will slaughter livestock and sheep for offerings on this day.

The Hari Raya Aidilfitri, meaning 'the festival to break the fast,' marks the end of a month-long fast observed by Muslims. However, the festive day according to the Islamic calendar has a rather serene atmosphere. Besides the unique New Year customs of the Malays, the Chinese community in Malaysia also celebrates their own New Year customs. This is the second biggest festival in the country, usually held on the 15th day of the new year. You can witness lion dances or dragon dances in many different places.

People in Hong Kong celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year with various activities. The traditional New Year in Hong Kong shares many similarities with China, but the way Hong Kong people celebrate the New Year blends Eastern traditions with the modern and innovative culture of the West. One prominent activity during the Lunar New Year in Hong Kong is the Flower Market Fair (lasting from the 25th to the 30th of the Lunar New Year). Here, familiar spring plants such as Kumquat, Narcissus, Peony, and Peach blossom, symbolize the best and luckiest things in the new year.

In Hong Kong culture, the color red is considered lucky and symbolizes happiness and success. Receiving a red envelope during the New Year signifies luck for the coming year. According to legend, a mythical beast named Nian used to terrorize villages, devouring livestock, and even children every New Year's Eve. However, this beast was afraid of the color red, so people in Hong Kong use red objects to decorate their homes during the New Year, such as red lanterns, banners, and firecrackers to ward them off. On the first day of the new year, people in Hong Kong gather at Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour to watch artistic performances, Disney characters parade to lively music. On the second day of the Lunar New Year, people gather at Victoria Harbour to enjoy a 20-minute fireworks display, considered one of the most beautiful fireworks displays in the world.

The Thai New Year, known as Songkran, is celebrated from April 13th to 15th. This is a time when the Thai people show reverence to the Buddha. As Buddhism is the national religion, the Thai observe their New Year according to the Buddhist calendar. To prepare for Songkran, people spend two days. One day is dedicated to cleaning their homes to rid them of the old, known as Wan Sungkharn Long. The next is Wan Nao, a day for preparing food for the festivities. According to tradition, people go to the riverbank and build sand pagodas, with each grain of sand symbolizing the washing away of sins. Wan Nao is akin to the 30th day of the traditional Vietnamese Lunar New Year.

Thais also have their own way of ushering in the first day of the year. Wan Payawan marks the beginning of the New Year. It starts with morning rituals at temples, where offerings of food and clothing are made. At home, images of the Buddha are cleaned and sprinkled with scented water. Wan Payawan also initiates the water-pouring festival. This tradition is unique to Thailand’s New Year celebrations, although some other countries, like Cambodia and Laos, also have water-pouring customs on New Year's Day. Thais believe that the more water poured on them, the luckier they will be. During the festival, there are parades and beauty pageants. Finally, there is Wan Parg-bpee, a day for prayers, honoring the elderly and ancestors, and sprinkling holy water.

In India, each region celebrates New Year at different times, some in March, while others in April, June, or even December, which is quite peculiar compared to other countries. However, regardless of the timing, one common practice is lighting fires. These fires are lit in lamps or candles, which are then floated on rivers, or in lanterns, followed by burning effigies to ward off evil spirits.

Fire lighting in India is also seen as a way to remember the departed and offer prayers for a peaceful and prosperous new year. Due to cultural diversity, each region in India celebrates the new year differently, with different festival names. Baisakhi is the biggest harvest festival celebrated across northern India. Maithili New Year is celebrated by Maithili people in Bihar, Jharkhand, and even Nepal. It usually falls on April 14th according to the Gregorian calendar. Ugadi or Yuradi is the New Year celebration in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka, where people enjoy traditional sweets and mango leaf neem syrup.

Philippines, a country rich in resources yet also harboring many intriguing customs, holds significant meaning to its New Year celebrations. During these days, people select and purchase items with round shapes: polka-dotted shirts, polka-dotted pants, balls, and even fruits like oranges, lemons, and pomelos. It's a traditional belief that everything in the coming year will be rounded and fulfilling, much like the items they choose. Therefore, before the New Year, circular foods, fruits, and objects are highly sought after and widely sold to meet the demands of Filipino consumers.

Philippines can be regarded as the country with the latest Lunar New Year celebration in the history of Asian culture. It wasn't until 2012 that the Philippine government officially recognized the Lunar New Year as one of the major festivals of the year. During the Lunar New Year, Filipino people often visit temples, churches, praying for a lucky, peaceful, and prosperous year. Celebrations of the New Year by Filipinos always include lion dances and dragon dances. The cuisine on New Year's Day for Filipinos is a sweet rice cake (Tikoy). This cake is made from glutinous rice, mixed with lard, sugar, and water, then mixed with chicken eggs, beaten evenly before frying. The harmony of the ingredients gives Tikoy cake the meaning of wishing everyone in the family to always stay together.