Why do Chinese people eat sticky rice dumplings on Dragon Boat Festival?
3 min read
Asked by: Sean Washington
The story begins with Qu Yuan, a patriotic statesman from ancient China who, once the kingdom he served fell, threw himself into a river in despair. It was said that the locals threw triangle-shaped rice dumplings into the river to stop the fish from eating his body.
Why do you eat zongzi on Dragon Boat Festival?
Why do we eat Zongzi on the Dragon Boat Festival? The custom was originated from 340 AD, when the patriotic poet, Qu Yuan gave his life for his country by drowning himself in a river. To protect his body from being eaten by fish, people threw Zongzi into the river to feed the water creatures.
Why do Chinese eat rice dumplings?
The origin of Zongzi (Sticky Rice Dumpling) in China can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (approximately 771- 476 BC). It was first used in ceremonies to worship ancestors and gods. Since the Jin Dynasty (266 – 420 AD), rice dumpling had become an iconic food for Dragon Boat Festival.
What do rice dumplings symbolize?
Dumplings mean ‘wealth‘, due to their traditional gold/silver ingot shape. Candy symbolizes wishes for a rich and sweet life, because of the sweet taste.
What do people eat during the Dragon Boat?
zongzi
The traditional food of the Dragon Boat Festival is zongzi. If you are of Cantonese descent, the pronunciation “joong” may be more familiar. They’re sometimes described as Chinese tamales. Instead of corn masa, they’re filled with sticky rice, and instead of corn husks, bamboo leaves/reed leaves are used.
How did the customs of eating zongzi and holding dragon boat races originate?
It is said that the local people, who admired him, raced out in their boats to save him, or at least retrieve his body. This is said to have been the origin of dragon boat races. When his body could not be found, they dropped balls of sticky rice into the river so that the fish would eat them instead of Qu Yuan’s body.
What is zongzi called in English?
sticky rice dumplings
History. Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) are traditionally eaten during the Duanwu Festival (Double Fifth Festival) which falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, and commonly known as the “Dragon Boat Festival” in English.
Why do Chinese eat zongzi?
Eating Zongzi has become a symbolic act for Chinese people to express their homage of Qu Yuan’s patriotism, advocacy of tradition of filial piety, and admiration of dragon-worship.
What do Chinese people eat in Dragon Boat Festival?
For Dragon Boat Festival the Chinese usually eat zongzi (rice dumpling) and various other foods below, depending on the region.
- Zongzi — Sticky Rice Dumplings. Zongzi. …
- Dagao — Glutinous Rice Cake. Dagao. …
- Mianshanzi. Mianshanzi. …
- Fried Cake (Jiandui) Fried Cake (Jiandui) …
- Eel. …
- Thin Pancakes. …
- Eggs Steamed with Tea. …
- Egg with Garlic.
What is sticky rice wrapped in?
Also known as “zongzi” in Mandarin or “joong” in Cantonese, there are a ton of variations across Asia, but at its core, it’s a pocket of sticky rice with delicious fillings, wrapped together in beautiful bamboo leaves.
How do you eat sticky rice dumplings?
To devour a sticky rice dumpling, you need a plate, a pair of scissors, and a pair of chopsticks. Use the scissors to cut the twine so you can unwrap the leaves and reveal the steamy zongzi inside. Then you can cut up the zongzi using the scissors or chopsticks, depending on the level of your chopstick skills.
What is Chinese sticky rice called?
Chinese Sticky Rice is called Lo Mai Fan or Loh Mai Fan in Cantonese and nuòmǐ fàn in Mandarin. In Traditional Chinese, it’s written as 糯米飯; and in Simplified Chinese, it’s written as 糯米饭. Sometimes, it’s also called Cantonese Sticky Rice or sticky rice with Chinese sausage.
