AnUnforgetfulExperience
ProbablymorefoodisconsumedduringtheNewYearcelebrationsthananyothertimeoftheyear.Vastamountsoftraditionalfoodispreparedforfamilyandfriends,aswellasthoseclosetouswhohavedied.
OnNewYear'sDay,theChinesefamilywilleatavegetariandishcalledjai.Althoughthevariousingredientsinjaiarerootvegetablesorfibrousvegetables,manypeopleattributevarioussuperstitiousaspectstothem.
Otherfoodsincludeawholefish,torepresenttogethernessandabundance,andachickenforprosperity.Thechickenmustbepresentedwithahead,tailandfeettosymbolizecompleteness.Noodlesshouldbeuncut,astheyrepresentlonglife.
InsouthChina,thefavoriteandmosttypicaldisheswereniangao,sweetsteamedglutinousrice(糯米)puddingandzongzi(glutinousricewrappedupinreed(芦苇)leaves),anotherpopulardelicacy.
Inthenorth,steamed-wheatbread(mantou)andsmallmeatdumplingswerethepreferredfood.Thetremendousamountoffoodpreparedatthistimewasmeanttosymbolizeabundanceandwealthforthehousehold