Feb 6, 2009

Why People Eat Tang Yuan or Glutinous Rice Balls?

Chinese people will eat Tang Yuan or Glutinous rice ball on Chinese New Year Eve and on the 15th of New Year days.

Tang yuan, or glutinous rice balls, are a must for the Dong Zhi celebration.
After the reunion dinner on the new year eve, tang yuan (kueh ee) is a must have dessert for every family. As it's a symbolic of sweet reunion, the roundness of the rice balls signifying a complete circle of harmony and unity within the family. Some families like to put crushed peanuts or sesame paste inside the tang yuan for better flavour.

As tang yuan is round and smooth with a sweet filling also symbolizing that everything will go smoothly in the New Year.

Lantern Festival begins on the 15th of the 1st lunar month.
The festival of the lanterns begins 15 days after New Year's day. It also marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebration and life will go back to normal activity. The occasion is celebrated with lantern exhibits, lion and dragon dances.

The typical food the Chinese people will eat on the 15th day of the new year is also Tang Yuan or glutinous rice ball. It is important to eat tang yuan during the Lantern Festival because they represent family reunion and unity, and their shape is the same as the full moon of that night. Children will show off their lanterns during the night time parade. This day also marks the Chinese people for welcoming the first full moon of the new year.

How to make tang yuan or glutinous rice balls?

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