Family reunion meal on Chinese New Year’s Eve
The Chinese New Year's (Spring Festival) Eve dinner is one of the biggest family feasts of the year for Chinese people. Food customs for the Spring Festival vary in different areas of China. Let’s take a look at some different regional cuisines for the New Year’s Eve dinner!
1. North China- dumplings
Northerners think highly of dumplings. They always cook a pot of steaming dumplings to celebrate the New Year. Sometimes a coin is placed in one of dumplings, and whoever gets the coin means you will have good luck for the New Year.
2. Northeast China- 4 representative dishes
Chicken, fish, spareribs and elbows are four preferred dishes on the New Year menu for people in Northeast China. Stewed chicks with mushroom are cooked with countryside chicken, Changbai mountain mushroom and vermicelli;Stewed beans with ribs are cooked with dried beans, which blend perfectly with the flavor of meat. The aroma fills the whole room!
3. Sichuan province- spicy sausage
Even if Sichuan people are not at home, they usually receive homemade sausages from their hometown. Sichuan sausage is famous for its spicy taste. Sausages with a sweet and spicy flavor can make Sichuan people feel the warmth from home even if they could not go back to their hometown.
4. Fujian province- Buddha Jumps Over the Wall （fotiaoqiang）
Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, or fo tiao qiang, is a variety of shark fin soup in Fujian cuisine. Since its creation during the Qing Dynasty (1644 – 1912), the dish has been regarded as a Chinese delicacy known for its rich taste, usage of various high-quality ingredients and special manner of cooking. The dish's name is an allusion to the dish's ability to entice the vegetarian monks from their temples to partake in the meat-based dish. It is high in protein and calcium.
5. Guangdong radish cake
Guangdong radish cake is made by steaming, frying and other processes for a fresh and salty taste. It is a special dish with Cantonese characteristics.
Some dishes with good meanings are popular. Can you guess what below cuisines represent? 1. Fish 2. Chicken 3. Rice cake
Answers: 1. The pronunciation is “Yu” in Chinese which represents “abundance” 2. The pronunciation is “Ji” in Chinese which represents “Good luck and happiness” 3. The pronunciation is “Gao” in Chinese which represents “promotion in career or get good grades in study“”
We wish you all the best in 2021.