Because this glutinous rice dumpling is floating and heavy when cooked in a pot, it was originally called "Floating Yuanzi", and later it was renamed as glutinous rice dumpling in some areas. However, glutinous rice balls symbolize a better family reunion, and eating glutinous rice balls means family happiness and reunion in the new year, so it is a must-have food for the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month.
In some areas in the south, people will also get used to eating glutinous rice balls during the Spring Festival, instead of jiaozi.
Extended data:
The winter solstice, also commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Long solstice Festival" and "Asian New Year", is a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The custom of the winter solstice originated from the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has been in existence ever since. Qing Jia Lu even said that "the winter solstice is as big as a year", which shows that the ancients attached great importance to the winter solstice. Because of this, the winter solstice food culture is rich and colorful, and after thousands of years of development, it has formed a unique seasonal food culture.
Eating dumplings on the winter solstice is especially popular in Jiangnan. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". Tangyuan is also called tangtuan, and eating tangtuan on the winter solstice is also called "Winter Solstice Tuantuan" or "Winter Solstice Round". According to the records of the Qing dynasty, Jiangnan people made dough with glutinous rice flour, which was covered with lean meat, apples, bean paste, shredded radish and so on. The winter solstice group can be used to worship ancestors or to give gifts to relatives and friends.
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-sweet glutinous dumplings