China is country of food. Besides the daily dishes, there are foods for special days. The following will introduce the food in the special days.
China is country of food. Besides the daily dishes, there are foods for special days. The following will introduce the food in the special days.
Birthday
To celebrate a birthday is an important moment in one's life. When one is young, usually he will eat noodles before his birthday, because the long noodles indicate the longevity in China, and birthday cake on the actual day. After middle age, his birthday celebration will grander. In addition to the above, peaches in many forms will be added symbolizing longevity and immortality, as well as delightful couplets and candles.
Wedding Day
On the wedding day, it is also customary to serve Chinese dates, peanuts, longan and chestnuts as a wish that the couple will soon have a baby, in accord with the Chinese proclamation.
Departure or Return Home
To most Chinese people, returning home after a long absence or departure from home are both significant and there are food customs associated with this. The return home is greeted with noodles and going away marked by serving dumplings. This is especially popular in northeast China.
Dragon Boat Festival
During the Dragon Boat Festival, though many people cannot reach the river zone to watch the boat race, almost all of them eat the unique food -zongzi, a pyramid-shaped dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves. The festival on that day is to venerate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan and the people fearing his lack of food, made the special meal for him. Now the food is made in various kinds and shapes.
Eighth Lunar Month
On the eighth day of the last month in the Chinese lunar calendar, people will enjoy a nourishing porridge called 'La Ba Zhou'. In ancient times, monks would kindly share all sorts of food grains with people, and on this particular day, made them flavorful porridge. This is still being practiced by common people up to this day.
Baby's Birth
In Central China, when a baby is born, the happy father will send red boiled eggs to announce the news. Eggs with a black pointed end and dots in an even number such as six or eight, indicates a boy's birth; those without a black point and in an odd number like five or seven will say the baby is a girl.
In addition to these, fish has always been used to suggest the accumulation of prosperity and wealth with meals on New Year's Eve.