The Unique Tradition of Malaysia Chinese: Lou Sang

Lou Sang is a unique Malaysian Lunar New Year tradition featuring a dish composed of shredded vegetables and raw fish symbolising the rise and abundance of fortune.

The term "Lou" is also a colloquial Cantonese expression related to making money. As a festive dish people often say they want to "Lou sang" instead of simply saying they want to eat raw fish.

"Lou Sang" implies the aspiration for a prosperous and thriving year ahead. In the past, Malaysians traditionally gathered on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year known as "Ren Ri"(Everyone's birthday) to perform the "Lou Sang" ceremony with the entire family.

Nowadays, the activity of “Lou Sang” takes place before the Lunar New Year or before closing for the holidays up until the fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year.

The traditional ingredients for Lou Sang include raw fish slices colorful pickled vegetables such as carrots, white radish, green radish, cucumber, ginger slices, onion slices, and pomelo. The dish is drizzled with oil, plum sauce, and sprinkled with crushed peanuts and crispy crackers

In this health-conscious era, many people have modified the traditional ingredients of Lou Sang incorporating more fruits and vegetables.

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