Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is one of the most important festivals in China's traditional culture. It has many similarities with Chinese New Year's Eve dinners in other regions, but it also has its own unique customs and stresses. In the following multi-angle explanation, I will introduce in detail the relevant customs and exquisite of Shanghai New Year's Eve dinner from the aspects of history, diet and etiquette.

First, historical origins

The Spring Festival dinner has been in China for thousands of years. According to legend, the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner originated from the ancient farmers' observing the new year's eve on the winter solstice, and then evolved into the custom of family reunion for dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve. This tradition has lasted for thousands of years and has become an important family and social activity.

2. Diet

1. New Year's Eve dishes

The dishes of Shanghai Spring Festival New Year's Eve are mainly seafood, including river shrimp, crayfish, crab, abalone and shark's fin. In addition, traditional dishes include chicken, duck, pork, beef and vegetables. Each ingredient has its symbolic meaning, such as fish symbolizing a surplus of money every year, pork symbolizing rolling financial resources, and vegetables symbolizing a harmonious family.

2. Special snacks

Shanghai's New Year's Eve dinner also has its own unique snacks, such as steamed buns, fried buns, sweet and sour pork ribs, braised pork and glutinous rice paste. These snacks are not only delicious, but also represent the cultural characteristics of Shanghai.

3. Taboo foods

There are some taboo foods in Shanghai New Year's Eve dinner, such as pigeons, pig's trotters and tofu, because they are similar to unlucky homophones such as "parting" and "lame" in Chinese.

3. Etiquette

1. Round table

A round table is usually used for New Year's Eve in Shanghai, which means reunion. Moreover, the number of dishes on the round table is also particular, usually even, because odd numbers are considered unlucky.

2. Table furnishings

At the New Year's Eve dinner in Shanghai, table furnishings also have their own unique style. There are usually some holiday decorations on the dining table, such as Spring Festival couplets, blessings and red lanterns, as well as some meaningful decorations, such as oranges and rice cakes, which symbolize reunion, peace and good luck.

3. Family Reunion

Shanghai's New Year's Eve dinner emphasizes family reunion. Usually, the whole family, old and young, get together to enjoy delicious food and celebrate the New Year. The atmosphere of New Year's Eve is usually very warm and festive.

4. ancestor worship

in Shanghai, ancestor worship is also an important activity for the new year's eve dinner. People set up ancestor worship platforms at home, burn incense and worship sacrifices to express their admiration and gratitude to their ancestors, and hope that their ancestors can bless themselves and their families with health, peace and happiness.

Fourth, other customs

1. Time for New Year's Eve

In Shanghai, New Year's Eve usually starts around 6 pm and lasts until late at night. Before enjoying the New Year's Eve, people will light firecrackers and fireworks, hoping to drive away evil spirits and usher in good luck in the New Year.

2. Leftovers of New Year's Eve

In Shanghai, there is usually enough food on New Year's Eve, but if there is any food left, people usually save it for the next day to show reunion and richness.

3. Dietary taboos

At the New Year's Eve dinner in Shanghai, people should also observe some dietary taboos, such as not eating leftover food, because it means that wealth will not last; You can't eat all the fish, because it will bring bad luck and bad luck.

In a word, the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is an important activity in China's traditional culture, and its dishes, etiquette and customs all have their own unique characteristics and stress. New Year's Eve is not only a time for family reunion and delicious food, but also a time for people to express their respect for their ancestors, expectations and blessings for the New Year.