FEBRUARY is the month for love. In days gone by, people celebrated Valentine's Day by wearing the name of their beloved on their sleeve. Today, we exchange Valentine's Day cards, while flowers and chocolates are popular gifts.
Of course, things are a little different in China, where the Chinese New Year season is traditionally a time for families. Nonetheless, along with the banquets, family dinners and other celebrations, couples find time for a little romance.
Falling on Feb. 21 this year, the Lantern Festival marks the last day of the Chinese New Year season. Traditionally, the Lantern Festival is a day for lovers. In the past, it was the one day of the year when a woman could come out, chaperoned, and be seen by eligible single men. In the days when women's feet were bound, it was often the one time when she could appear in public with unbound feet.
Of course, these restrictions no longer exist, but there is still a hint of romance in the air during Lantern Festival celebrations.
Numerous theories surround the festival's origins. It's possible that it was originally meant to honor the Buddha. Another story attributes its creation to a homesick palace maid named Yuanxiao.
This maid told the Emperor that the God of Fire would set fire to the city unless he was appeased by fire. Accordingly, the Emperor ordered that firecrackers be set off and bright red lanterns hung throughout the streets.
The ensuing noise and confusion allowed Yuanxiao to slip home unnoticed for a brief family reunion.
The traditional food for the Lantern Festival is Yuanxiao dumplings, named after the lonely palace maid of long ago. Some versions of the story have her preparing stuffed dumplings for the God of Fire, as this was one of his favorite foods.
Yuanxiao are made with sticky rice flour. They can be sweet or savory, filled with everything from sugar, walnuts, and dried tangerine peel to meat and vegetables.
People are encouraged to enjoy Lantern Day festivities which traditionally include music, dancing, acrobats, and of course, the sight of brightly decorated lanterns everywhere. People play the lantern riddle game, trying to guess the answers to the riddles stuck to the lanterns. And, of course, snack on dumplings!
(SD-Agencies)
Yuanxiao dumplings recipe
Chinese dumplings are a popular treat during the Chinese New Year season. Sticky rice (glutinous rice) flour and black sesame powder are available at markets. If you can't find black sesame powder, just grind black sesame seeds in a food processor.
Ingredients
500g sticky rice flour
200g butter or oil
200g black sesame powder
250g sugar
1 tsp wine
Water, as needed
Preparation
Mix the butter, sesame powder, sugar and wine, forming the mixture into balls.
Take 1/2 cup of sticky rice flour. Add water and make a flattened dough then cut the dough into small pieces about 10g each. Roll each piece between the hands to form a ball and then make a hole in the ball. Put the sesame ball into the hole and close it over.
Cook them in boiling water making sure to keep stirring in one direction while cooking. When they begin to float, lower the heat and continue to boil for about one minute.
