How to Make a Togetherness Tray

The Togetherness Tray, or Harmony Box as it's also called, is an octagonal or round dish filled with selections of the most beneficial snacks for the New Year. Every item included in the Harmony Box is chosen specifically to increase your overall fortune for the coming year. Place one in a central location when your family and friends visit you during the celebration so everyone will have a prosperous new year. Follow these steps to assemble yours.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Lotus seeds
• Lychee nut
• Octagonal sectioned tray
• Peanuts
• Fresh kumquat
• Red watermelon seeds
• Candy melon
• Fresh Longan
• Dried shaved coconut
• 1 cup candy melon
• 1 cup red watermelon seeds
• 1 cup lychee nut
• 1 cup dried shaved coconut
• 1 cup peanuts
• 1 cup fresh longan
• 1 cup lotus seeds
• 1 cup fresh kumquat

Chinese New Year Togetherness Tray

1. The dish you use for the Togetherness Tray is important. It must have eight sides or a round shape. Asian markets will sell specific trays that have eight sections molded into the tray.
2. When assembling the tray, arrange the eight different candies and nuts in different compartments.
3. These food items are meant to be eaten during the Chinese New Year celebration in preparation for the coming year. The meanings and symbolism for these foods are as follows:
   
   • Candy melon: good growth and good health.
   
   • Red watermelon seeds: joy and happiness, truth and sincerity.
   
   • Lychee nut: strong family ties.
   
   • Coconut: friendship.
   
   • Peanuts: longevity.
   
   • Longan: many good sons.
   
   • Lotus seeds: many children and fertility.
   
   • Fresh kumquat: gold and prosperity. (Kumquats are called "gam gat sue" in Chinese. The word "gam" is similar to the word for gold, and the word "gat" to the word for luck. The tiny green leaves of this plant symbolize riches and the small fruits unity and perfection).
4. When you've assembled your Harmony Box, place it in a centralized area for your guests to eat while they talk with each other.

Tips & Warnings

• All of these ingredients are specific to the New Year and can be found in well-stocked Asian markets.
• If you can’t find these ingredients, search online for a website that will ship them to you.
• If you're expecting many guests, feel free to make two or three Togetherness Trays so everyone can have some.