The most important feature of the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year, is having abundant food. The gathering of the whole family for a banquet is the culmination of a year’s hard work. All people, whether they are workers, peasants, or office clerks, put money aside to have a spectacular meal.
In the past, the CNY was the only time of year in which many people had the opportunity to eat all they could of exciting or expensive foods. However, this is already becoming a thing of the past.
With improved standards of living, choice food becomes affordable all year round. Therefore, people no longer display an insatiable craving for food during the Spring Festival.
Nonetheless, it is still important to include certain foods in the Spring Festivals meals, such as dumplings (jaozi), and New Year Cake, which not only satisfy the palate, but also symbolize the hope for a better and more abundant new year.
On New Year’s Eve, the whole family shares a hearty dinner. One dish is a whole fish. The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance. It is important that the fish is served with the head and tail intact to ensure a good start and finish and to avoid bad luck throughout the year. It stands for togetherness and plentifulness. They share a Tray of Togetherness.
Heaps of sticky cakes and plump dumplings are eaten over the Spring Festival. Yuanxiao, the white little balls will be eaten on the last day of the new year, which will be the Lantern Festival.
Mahua is made from flour and it's deep fired.
