The custom of eating Yuanxiao originated from when and where, and people have different opinions. It is said that at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, King Chu Zhao passed through the Yangtze River on his way back from the country, and he saw something floating on the river, white and yellowish in color, and there was a pulp as red as rouge in it, which tasted sweet. People didn't know what it was, so King Zhao sent someone to ask Confucius. Confucius said: "This duckweed fruit is also a sign of the revival of the owner."

Because this day is the fifteenth day of the first month, on this day in the future, King Zhao ordered his men to imitate this fruit with flour and cook it with red stuffing made of hawthorn.

There is also a saying that Yuanxiao was originally called glutinous rice balls. When Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty arrived, there was a palace maid named Yuanxiao, who was very good at making glutinous rice balls. Since then, the world has been named after this palace maid. These two legends are not recorded in historical materials, so they are not credible.

This legend is related to the custom of eating Yuanxiao: According to legend, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had a favorite named Dong Fangshuo, who was kind and funny. One winter, it snowed heavily for several days, and Dong Fangshuo went to the Imperial Garden to fold plum blossoms for Emperor Wu. As soon as I entered the garden gate, I found a maid-in-waiting in tears ready to throw herself into the well. Dong Fangshuo rushed forward to help and asked why she wanted to commit suicide.

It turns out that this maid-in-waiting is named Yuanxiao, and there are parents and a sister at home. Since she entered the palace, she has never seen her family again. Every year when spring comes, I miss my family more than usual. I think it is better to die than to be filial in front of my parents. Dong Fangshuo was deeply sympathetic to what happened to her and assured her that she would try to reunite her with her family.