NIAN GAO

My mum lets me buy the Nian Gao or Chinese New Year cake each year as she said that by doing so it is hoped that I would go far or 'rise high' in my career.  This New Year speciality is a food prepared from glutinous rice. The Nian Gao which is available during this festive season can be kept and eaten the whole year round. 
It is considered good luck to eat Nian Gao during the New Year, because "nian gao" is has the same sound as a "higher year." The Chinese word 粘 (nián), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to 年 nian, meaning "year", and the word 糕 (gāo), meaning "cake" is a homophone to 高, meaning "high". Therefore, eating nian gao is symbolic of raising oneself higher for each coming year.