Cuisines of Traditional Chinese Festivals

There are many traditional Chinese festivals, each with its own special traditional cuisine, and the following are some common ones:

Chinese New Year:

1. Dumplings: Representing reunion and prosperity, as their shape resembles that of the ancient Chinese silver (Yuanbao), it is said that eating dumplings will make the family's fortunes flourish in the new year.

2. Nian Gao (New Year's Cake): A sweet cake made of glutinous rice flour, it symbolizes "rising year after year" and "rising in every season".

3. New Year's goods: Dried fruits and candies such as melon seeds, peanuts and cashew nuts are also traditional treats during the Spring Festival.

Qingming Festival:

1. Qingming Dumplings: Also known as "Bunshui Dumplings", they are a kind of pastry made from glutinous rice flour, and are traditionally made by writing the names of loved ones on the dumplings before they are baked.

2. Green Dumplings: Also known as "Green Cake", these are made of green bean flour and covered with a sweet and soft filling.

Duanwu Festival:

1. Zongzi: a traditional food made of glutinous rice, bean paste, meat and other fillings, wrapped in reed leaves or zongzi leaves.

2. Dragon boat zongzi: These zongzi are made with soybeans and mung beans wrapped in glutinous rice and made to resemble the shape of a dragon boat to symbolize the celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival.

Mid-Autumn Festival:

1. Mooncake: It is a round pastry with a hard shell on the outside and a sweet filling on the inside, representing reunion, harmony and happiness.

2. Pomelo: Pomelo is an indispensable delicacy during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and its symbolizes peace and happiness.

The above festive dishes are representative of traditional Chinese festivals, they are not just food, but also an expression of the Chinese people's traditional culture, religious beliefs and spiritual trust.