AnUnforgetfulExperience

　　ProbablymorefoodisconsumedduringtheNewYearcelebrationsthananyothertimeoftheyear.Vastamountsoftraditionalfoodispreparedforfamilyandfriends,aswellasthoseclosetouswhohavedied.

　　OnNewYear'sDay,theChinesefamilywilleatavegetariandishcalledjai.Althoughthevariousingredientsinjaiarerootvegetablesorfibrousvegetables,manypeopleattributevarioussuperstitiousaspectstothem.

　　Otherfoodsincludeawholefish,torepresenttogethernessandabundance,andachickenforprosperity.Thechickenmustbepresentedwithahead,tailandfeettosymbolizecompleteness.Noodlesshouldbeuncut,astheyrepresentlonglife.

　　InsouthChina,thefavoriteandmosttypicaldisheswereniangao,sweetsteamedglutinousrice（糯米）puddingandzongzi(glutinousricewrappedupinreed（芦苇）leaves),anotherpopulardelicacy.

　　Inthenorth,steamed-wheatbread(mantou)andsmallmeatdumplingswerethepreferredfood.Thetremendousamountoffoodpreparedatthistimewasmeanttosymbolizeabundanceandwealthforthehousehold