The Chinese Cultural Meaning in Its Diverse New Year's Food
Food is one of the most significant resources in life. All cultures differentiate themselves through their development and attitude toward food. Therefore, there is a wide variation of food, which often has a lengthy developmental history, that symbolizes diverse cultural attitudes; specific foods, such as pasta for Italians, curry for Southeastern Asians, and pierogi for Poles, serve as a focus for ethnic identity (Hirschberg 57). Gathering food at certain times is an exciting and fascinating characteristic all over the world; the mutual exchange of food between cultures also initiates a social bond between people that "... is at the root of human society" (Hirschberg 57). The Chinese, which are famous for their widespread culture, have the longest food history in the world; few can take exception to the statement that few other cultures are as food oriented as the Chinese (Gernet 135). As long as a certain food contains nutrition, Chinese people have no trouble with sharing its spirit and meaning with one another. Moreover, the Chinese emphasize that people's mutual relationships are held together through food. Therefore, there are lots of festivals for gathering all family members and relatives to strengthen harmonious feelings with one another. …
