The Shanghai Spring Festival New Year's Eve dinner is one of the important festival activities in traditional Chinese culture. It has many similarities with the Spring Festival New Year's Eve dinner in other regions, but it also has its own unique customs and particularities.

In the multi-angle explanation below, I will introduce in detail the customs and particularities of Shanghai’s Spring Festival Eve dinner from the aspects of history, food, etiquette, etc.

1. Historical Origins The Spring Festival Eve dinner has a history of thousands of years in China.

According to legend, the Spring Festival New Year's Eve dinner originally originated from ancient farmers staying up late on the winter solstice, and later evolved into the custom of family reunions and dinner on the Lunar New Year's Eve.

This tradition has been carried out for thousands of years and has become an important family and social event.

2. Food 1. New Year’s Eve dinner dishes The Shanghai New Year’s Eve dinner dishes are mainly seafood, including river shrimp, crayfish, crab, abalone, shark’s fin, etc.

In addition, traditional dishes include chicken, duck, pork, beef, vegetables, etc.

Each ingredient has its own symbolic meaning, such as fish symbolizing abundance, pork symbolizing wealth, and vegetables symbolizing a harmonious family.

2. Special snacks Shanghai’s New Year’s Eve dinner also has its own unique snacks, such as xiaolongbao, pan-fried buns, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised pork, glutinous rice cakes, etc.

These snacks are not only delicious, but also represent the cultural characteristics of Shanghai.

3. Taboo foods There are also some taboo foods in the Shanghai Spring Festival New Year’s Eve dinner, such as pigeons, pig’s trotters, tofu, etc., because they have similar homophonic sounds to unlucky words such as “parting” and “lame” in Chinese.

3. Etiquette 1. Round table The New Year’s Eve dinner in Shanghai usually uses a round table, which symbolizes reunion.

Moreover, the number of dishes on the round table is also particular, usually an even number, because odd numbers are considered unlucky.

2. Table decoration During the New Year’s Eve dinner in Shanghai, the table decoration also has its own unique style.

The dining table is usually placed with some festive decorations, such as Spring Festival couplets, blessing characters, red lanterns, etc., as well as some meaningful decorations, such as oranges, rice cakes, etc., symbolizing reunion, peace and good luck.

3. Family reunion: Shanghai’s New Year’s Eve dinner emphasizes family reunion. Usually the whole family, old and young, gathers together to enjoy delicious food and celebrate the New Year.

The atmosphere of the New Year's Eve dinner is usually very warm and festive.

4. Ancestor worship in Shanghai is also an important activity during the Spring Festival Eve dinner.

People set up ancestor worship platforms at home and burn incense to express their respect and gratitude to their ancestors. They also hope that their ancestors can bless themselves and their families with health, safety and happiness.

4. Other customs 1. New Year’s Eve dinner in Shanghai. The New Year’s Eve dinner usually starts around 6 pm and lasts until late at night.

Before enjoying the New Year's Eve dinner, people will light firecrackers and fireworks in the hope of driving away evil spirits and ushering in good luck in the New Year.

2. Leftovers from the New Year’s Eve dinner In Shanghai, the food on the New Year’s Eve dinner is usually enough, but if there is any leftover food, people usually save it for the next day to show reunion and abundance.

3. Dietary taboos During the New Year’s Eve dinner in Shanghai, people also have to abide by some dietary taboos, such as not eating leftover food, because it means that wealth will not last; not eating all the fish, because this will bring

Bad luck and bad luck.

In short, the Shanghai Spring Festival New Year's Eve dinner is an important event in traditional Chinese culture, and its dishes, etiquette and customs have its own unique characteristics and exquisiteness.

The New Year's Eve dinner is not only a time for family reunions and enjoyment of delicious food, but also a time for people to express their respect for their ancestors, their expectations and blessings for the New Year.