Cultural event-dumpling making

This Wednesday，our interns went to 集天鲅鱼饺子  restaurant to make dumpling together. Making dumpling is one of Chinese traditional custom, We were happy to get united together to enjoy the great food and to savor the traditional Chinese culture. 

Jiaozi has experienced a long history of name changing. Dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was called Bianshi (implied from its shape that was flat), and generally changed to Jiaozi during the Qing Dynasty. Eating Jiaozi on Lunar New Year’s day is an old tradition, which has remained widely in most northern parts of China.

Dumplings(Jiaozi) has experienced a long history of name changing. Dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was called Bianshi (implied from its shape that was flat), and generally changed to Jiaozi during the Qing Dynasty.

There are lots of popular old saying in China about dumpling. One of them is 好吃不过饺子, 舒服不过倒着.(pinyin:hǎo chī bù guò jiǎo zǐ,shū fú bù guò dǎo zhe.)It means: “If you want to eat, dumpling is best. If you want to feel comfortable, sleeping will be.” 

Before starting the event, the 师傅 demonstrated the art of making dumplings to the contestants. Dumplings may be small, but making them is not an easy job. It’s not all about wrapping rolled pastry around a prepared filling. Patience and skill is required to make the “perfect” dumpling.

Also, the master (师傅) told us thw culture in jiaozi :"Since the shape Of Chinese dumpling is similar to ancient gold or silver ingots, they symbolize wealth. Traditionally, the member of a family get together to make dumplings during the New Year’s Eve. They may hidea coin in one of the dumplings. The person who finds the coin will likely havea good Fortune in the New Year. "

There are different cooking and dumpling filling methods for Jiaozi. You could DIY fillings with various food materials to your own specific taste, and shape the wrapper to your own creativity.

We sincerely hope everyone enjoyed a lot for the dumpling night!It is also an unforgettable opportunity for interns to learn Chinese culture.