Today is the day of Dongzhi, one of the chinese traditions and we celebrate this festival by eating Tang Yuan. I love eating Tang Yuan. I remember when I was younger, I used to watch my mom making Tang Yuan from glutinous rice flour with a small amount of water added to form the balls. Usually she will put chopped peanuts or rock sugar inside the balls as the fillings. Then she will boil them in soup (with a little sugar added) and it is ready to serve. Other fillings also include sesame paste and red bean paste, depends on individual's preference.I also remember fighting with my younger sister for the pink Tang Yuan, as the glutinous rice dough comes with two colours: white and pink. (White is the most commonly found in the wet markets, since it's considered the 'traditional' colour for Tang Yuan, although most would like to add in a few pink balls to create a more 'colourful' effect).
Tang Yuan can be eaten all year around, and is most commonly associated with Chinese New Year, Lantern Festival and even at Chinese weddings where the new couples believe it will bring them luck and all the good blessings.
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Hey Melody
Happy Tang Yuan Day *grin*, I'm not sure what it is, but I think I got an idea what it it look like from the description you wrote here.
However I do know what glutinous rice is. We usully make a sticky rice cake here where I live. It is wrapped up in a layer of leaf. It is popular and many make them to sell it for charity in our church. Even my mom help. My mother sometime make them on Chinese New Year too or for any occassion.
Anyway thanks for sharing these thing with me. Something I learn everyday :)
Hey Julia, it should be 'Happy Dongzhi'. Don't you agree that glutinuous rice can be very filling to one's stomach?! LOL. But yeah, they are yummy. :)
OOPs ! Sorry - Happy Dongzhi !
Yep glutinuous can be very filling, just depend on what is put inside it LOL. My parent make them all the times. even during "Tet" holiday
What is it about 'Tet' holiday? Wow, all this culture sharing stuff! LOL.
Tet is like Chinese New Year. We give out red envelope to little children with money in it. And we also visit from house to house (family or close friends house) to sent gifts like those big yellow fruits, to them. And pass out money for their children. Also they have kids going around with their latern light, all in different shape. Just to entertain everyone :)
I would have thought you knew what "Tet" is since it is normally the chinese tradition. Over here, we have Chinese people who married Vietnamese people so they tried to share each other holidays. So on Chinese New Year, Vietnamese also celebrate with them
*phew* long explaining LOL...are you glad you ask? LOL
Very similiar with our Chinese New Year! :) But well, 'Tet' is in Vietnamese right..., so of course I have to ask! LOL.
I have always assumed that "Tet" is chinese word. But "Tet" is another word to say Chinese New Year.
I guess Chinese New Year had different name said in Chinese, while "Tet" is for Vietnamese word to say "Chiense New Year". But they are the one and the same holiday, Melody. They're no different.
How do you said New Year in Chinese?
It's 'Xin Nian'. :)