Traditional Chinese New Year diets in China include jiaozi, spring rolls, rice cakes and Yuanxiao.

1. jiaozi

jiaozi, also known as dumplings, is deeply loved by the people of China. It is the staple food of the people in northern China and local snacks, and also the food for the New Year. There is a folk proverb called "It's cold and mild, eat jiaozi for the New Year." Jiaozi is often boiled with flour and leather bag stuffing.

When wrapping jiaozi, people often put Jin Ruyi, brown sugar, peanuts, dates and chestnut coins into the stuffing. Those who eat satisfied and brown sugar will have a sweeter life in the coming year, those who eat peanuts will live a long and healthy life, those who eat dates and chestnuts will have a baby early, and those who eat coins will be a constant source of money.

2. Spring rolls

Spring rolls, also known as spring cakes, spring plates and pancakes. It is a traditional food in China folk festivals, which is popular all over China, especially in Jiangnan and other places. In the south of China, we don't eat jiaozi during the Spring Festival, but eat spring rolls and sesame dumplings. And they also eat spring rolls in Zhangzhou during the Qingming Festival. Besides serving for their own families, folks often treat guests. Spring rolls have a long history and evolved from ancient spring cakes.

3. rice cake

rice cake (nián-gāo, rice cake; New year cake), a traditional food of the Han nationality in China, belongs to the seasonal food of the Lunar New Year. Rice cakes are made of rice or glutinous rice, cooked into rice, beaten or ground into powder by water, and pressed. During the Spring Festival, many areas in China pay attention to eating rice cakes.

The rice cakes are red, yellow and white, which symbolize gold and silver. The rice cakes are also called "New Year's cakes", which is homophonic with "getting taller every year", implying that children are getting taller every year. Therefore, there was a poem by predecessors that called the rice cake: "The meaning of the rice cake is a little deep, and the white is like silver yellow gold. I hope that when I am old, I will be profitable, and I sincerely hope that my wealth will come. "

4. Yuanxiao

Yuanxiao is one of the traditional snacks of the Han nationality in China, which belongs to the festival food custom.

The folk custom of eating Yuanxiao during the Lantern Festival. Yuanxiao is called "Tangyuan", "Yuanzi", "Floating Yuanzi" and "Shuiyuan" in the south, and it is made of glutinous rice (made of sweet potato in some areas), solid or stuffed. Stuffing includes bean paste, sugar, hawthorn, etc., which can be boiled, fried, steamed and fried.

At first, people called this kind of food "Floating Yuanzi", and later they called it "Tangtuan" or "Tangyuan". These names are similar to the word "reunion", which means reunion, symbolizing the reunion, harmony and happiness of the whole family. People also miss their departed relatives and place their hopes on the future life. Eating Yuanxiao symbolizes family reunion like a full moon, and places people's good wishes for future life.

5. Baba

Tujia people have a saying that "28, Baba". Playing glutinous rice Baba is a physical activity with high labor intensity. Generally, it is played by a young man, and two people stand opposite each other, rubbing first and then playing, even if it is snowy and snowy, they will break out in a sweat. Making Ciba is also very particular. Stick beeswax or tea oil with your hands, rub it first, and then press it with your hands or boards to make it smooth and beautiful.

Ciba can only be eaten in winter in Xiangxi, and there are many ways to eat it. The most enjoyable way to eat is to bake Ciba. In winter, Xiangxi is cold and humid. In order to keep warm, most people will light fire barrels. Ciba is baked on charcoal in the brazier, which usually has an iron frame. If not, we will use tongs as a support. There seems to be a stubborn Ciba, so it is not easy to soften it.