Inyourlastletter,youaskedmeaboutthebestfoodinChina.Well,letmetellyou,thebestisthatsteamedyellowcroakermymomusedtocookforourChineseNewYear'sEvedinner.Speakingofthisannualbanquet,it'slikeaflavor-packedtripdownourownprivatememorylane,hittingalltherightspotsinourbelliesandhearts.WeChinesepeoplefollowtherhythmoftheseasonsinourdiet.EachtraditionalfestivalliketheDragonBoatFestival,Mid-AutumnFestivalandDoubleNinthFestival,comeswithitsownsetofdeliciousdishes.Amongthem,theSpringFestivalstandsoutwithitsNewYear'sEvedinnerbeingthegrandestfeastoftheyear.So,howdowepreparesuchafeast?Thekeyisvariety!Havingmorethan10dishessymbolizesabundanceforthewholeyear.JustlikehowaChristmasdinnerfeaturesturkey,dumplingsareamustinnorthChineseNewYear’sEvedinner.TheirshaperesemblesancientChinesesilveringots,symbolizingwealthandprosperityforanewyear.Peopleinsouthernregionsprefertoeatglutinousricecakesandriceballs.InChinese,glutinousricecake,"niangao”,soundsthesameas“risingeveryyear”;andglutinousriceballs,"tangyuan",soundslike“tuanyuan”,symbolizingwishesfor"familyreunion".Insomeplaces,chicken,“ji”,isamustforthelunarNewYear’sEvedinnerbecauseitsoundsthesameastheChinesecharacterfor“auspicious”;soislettuce,“shengcai”,foritsoundsthesameas"bringingwealth”.InmyhometownShantou—acoastalcity—wemusthavefish,“yu”,forthewishof“niannianyouyu”,or“havingmorethanenougheachandeveryyear”.Yousee,eachregioninChinahasitsowncustomsforthelunarNewYear'sEvedinner,butthey'reallsingingthesametuneofgoodvibesandgoodfortune.Thismealisn'tjustaboutrelishingtheflavorsofhome;it'salsoaspiritualreunionwithlovedones,aritualofbiddingfarewelltotheoldandwelcomingthenew,anditcarriestheculturalintricaciesembeddedinChinesecuisine.RememberwhatIsaidinmylastletter?OntheChineseNewYear'sEve,nodistanceistoofartostopusfrommakingitbackhometosharethiscozy,heartwarmingdinnerwithourfamily.So,whoareyouplanningtoshareyourNewYear'sEvedinnerwith?What'sonthemenu?Don'tforgettoshowmeyourbiteofSpringFestival.Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.