Eating Qiaoqiao rice is a folk custom of Han girls in festivals. It is popular in Shandong, and the time varies from place to place. Tengxian (now Tengzhou), Feixian, Linqu, Mengyin, Changyi, Jiaoxian (now Jiaozhou), Zouxian (now Zoucheng) and other places held it on the 16th day of the first lunar month. In places such as Youyu, Zaozhuang, and Zhucheng, it is held on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, while in Binzhou and other places, it is held on the Qingming Festival.

At that time, unmarried girls will form a group and go from house to house in the village to ask for some rice, beans and noodles. Then they will bring their own cooking utensils and go to the river, hillside or leeward depression in the plain to collect firewood for cooking. For rice, put needles, thimbles, etc. in the pot. After the rice is cooked, divide it and eat it. Whoever eats the needlework supplies will be ingenious.

Extended information

Qiaoguo is the most famous food for Qixi Festival. Qiaoguo, also known as "Qiaoguo", comes in many styles. The main materials are oil, flour, sugar and honey. "Tokyo Menghualu" calls it "laughing tired children" and "fruit-eating patterns", and the patterns include Na Xiang, Fang Sheng, etc. During the Song Dynasty, Qixi Qiaoguo was already sold in the street market.

The method of making Qiaoguo is: first put the sugar in a pot to melt into syrup, then add flour and sesame seeds, mix well and spread it out on the table to thin, let it cool and then cut it into long cubes with a knife , and finally fold it into a spindle-shaped fruit embryo, and fry it until golden brown. Women with skillful hands can also shape various patterns related to the legend of the Chinese Valentine's Day.