With the Coming of the Lunar New Year celebration, the aroma of baking cookies floods the homes and bakeries on many Asian countries. They are Chinese New Year (CNY) cookies, known as nian gao (年糕) in Mandarin, and they are an important part of CNY celebration. Due to their fortunate images, interpretations and qualities, those delicious morsels guarantee the families wishes in the further year.
The Origins and Significance
Food preparation especially cookies have been traditions associated with CNY for centuries; some people estimate that the Baking and sharing home-made cookies during CNY can dates back to 2000 years. Different fables connect the nian gao to as early as the Song Dynasty although some date it even earlier. These cookies are prepared to celebrate Kitchen God, also called Zao Jun, who guards families’ kitchens.
According to the legend, Zao Jun goes back to the heaven on the 23 day of the last lunar month to tell the Jade Emperor how a family has been behaving for that year. It is suggested that sweet nian gao cookies should be presented to him so as to ‘bribe’ his mouth, and thus get a good word. The treats also remind the Kitchen God to protect the family and send him good wishes from the earthly world.
During the Chinese New Year, people bake cookies to invite Zao Jun back to bless the family and household during New Year’s Eve. Superstitious citizens compliment him nian gao to help to accompany him so that he can avoid misfortunes in the next year. The stickiness also conveys addendum wish for a sweet or ‘stick’ lucky prosperous new year and a prospect for developing interconnection.
Eventually, nian gao cookies were not exclusive to Zao Jun again, as they evolved to become. They became enshrined as necessary CNY delicacies through which sweet cheer can be enjoyed with family, friends, neighbours and officemates during the celebration season.
The intent behind donating them as round or rectangular shaped cakes leads to unified individuals. They embody gift messages that are as beautiful as the packaging of red and gold – positive wishes for the coming New Year. Its sweet taste simulate success in sweet business, hence people wished to have a Gulaab laminated to wishing a ‘Sweet Gulaab Sweet New Year’.
Main components, forms and Significance
The major components found in the basic recipes include glutinous rice flour, brown sugar/maltose syrup, vegetable oil/butter and hot water. Others enhance their flavours and colours in the fillings by adding coconut milk, molasses, candied winter melon or red bean paste.
Nian gao acquire the specific sticky and chewy texture in large part from glutinous rice flour mixed with sugars or syrups. This comes as a nutritious energy for sweet beginning of the New Year sweetly. H)e contracts Different plant – based oils symbolize prosperity and smooth butter portrays a smooth year.
The cookies come moulded into all sorts of creative shapes imbued with symbolic significance:
- Round nian gao symbolize family reunion and togetherness among the Chinese.
- Oval and rounded rectangular triangles stand for metal ingots, meaning wealth or silver, gold.
- Spheres reflect the invention of The Chinese triangular silver coins also known as sycee coins.
- Fish shapes mean extra and plenty
- The peach motifs in particular symbolize long life and health across the works.
- Fat baby/jingle figures suggest good cheer and blessing of the year ahead.
Different Cultures: Popular Types
Just like their more familiar counterparts, all sorts of nian gao are associated with delivering sweet new year messages, but the exact popular versions vary with Chinese subcultures.
Nian gao has very specific Cantonese structure and it is widespread in Guangdong China ad Hong Kong. This one is more fragrant and triggers bees, literally; it has a slightly sticky-soft feel, not really chewy but sticky sweet. Following baking, rectangles get tiny sliced before pan frying until brown and Other distinguished regional types include sweet-salty nian gao from Shanghai and white nian gao steamed in southern Fujian province.
In Taiwan, the traditional sweet you’ll find during the festive season is the pineapple cake or “feng li su”. These Chinese New Year treats surround buttery soft nian gao fillings with an even more delicate and tender crusts made from pineapple jam or finely diced pineapple. They are packed in gift boxes to beautify then be taken home as home gifts or as corporate gifts.
While many of the traditional aspects of nian gao preparation are retained, modern version of Singaporean nian gao has become brightly colored and contains tropical fruits such as coconut, banana and durian in combination with auspicious mixed nuts. Malaysia also produces similar tropical takes along with its own nut-filled cookies.
Irie or not, auspicious or grotesque within and without, CNY cookies always symbolize the sweet reunion of family during Lunar New Year and bring an extra sprinkle of sweetness for the year ahead. Whether homemade delicacies or thoughtfully bought as souvenirs, they evoke and spread happiness and auspiciousness to everyone nearby and far away.
Discover the perfect selection of CNY goodies at cny-cookies.com and make this Lunar New Year celebration even sweeter for your loved ones!
