Wonton is a traditional Chinese food originating from northern China. "Dialect" written by Yang Xiong of the Western Han Dynasty mentioned: "Wonton is called wonton". Wonton is a kind of cake. The difference is that wonton is filled with stuffing and eaten after steaming; if it is cooked with soup, it is called "soup cake".

The ancient Chinese believed that this was a sealed bun without seven orifices, so it was called "hunton". According to the rules of Chinese character creation, it was later called "wonton". At this point, there is no difference between wontons and dumplings.

Dumplings have not changed significantly for thousands of years, but wontons have been developed in the south and have an independent style. Starting from the Tang Dynasty, the names of wontons and dumplings were officially distinguished.

Characteristics of wontons

1. Compare wontons and dumplings

The wonton skin is a square with a side length of about 6 cm, or a top side of about 5 cm. , an isosceles trapezoid with a base length of about 7 cm; the dumpling wrapper is a circle with a diameter of about 7 cm.

2. The wonton skin is thin and becomes transparent after cooking. Because of this difference in thickness, equal amounts of wontons and dumplings are boiled in boiling water. It takes less time to cook the wontons. In the process of cooking the dumplings, cold water needs to be added three times, and the so-called "three sinks and three floats" can be ensured to be cooked.

3. Wonton focuses on soup, while dumplings focus on dipping.

Names in various places

Beijing, Shanghai: Northern China and other places are usually called wontons.

Guangdong: Due to different accents, it is called wonton along with the sound of "wonton". The British name "wonton" is originally from Cantonese.

Fujian: Commonly known as Bianshi, and a few people call it Bianrou. The meat filling is usually beaten with a hammer

Sichuan: Commonly known as Chaoshou. Sichuan people are fond of spicy food. There is a famous dish called " "Red Oil Copying Hands".

Hubei: Commonly known as wontons, some people also call them dumplings.

Jiangxi: commonly known as clear soup.

Japan: It comes from northern China, and is called "ワンタン" (wantan) along its pronunciation; it is written as "yunxi" or "wonton".

Taiwan: It is called Bianshi in Hokkien. Around 1949, immigrants from all over China brought the names of their hometowns to Taiwan. Therefore, wontons, wontons, flat food, or "chaoshou" are all very common in Taiwan.

Common fillings

Pork, shrimp, vegetables, green onions and ginger constitute the most basic filling choices. Large vegetable and meat wontons and fresh meat small wontons were once the basic options in Shanghai snack bars.

Wuxi Three Fresh Wontons, which originated in Dongting, Wuxi, are filled with fresh pork, Kaiyang, and pickled mustard. Changzhou Three Fresh Wontons are stuffed with fresh pork, shrimp and herring meat. The combination of pork, aquatic products, dry goods and pickles also inspired future filling innovations.

Since the 1990s, several chain-operated wonton shops have appeared in Shanghai, operating both dine-in and take-out services. In the menu, various kinds of pickles, meat and vegetables, fresh meat and vegetables, and dry goods from the north and south are included in the fillings. The variety of wonton fillings has also been greatly enriched and improved, such as lotus root and barbecued pork, bacon and yam, bacon and three mushrooms. , snow pea fresh meat, crispy duck with egg yolk, cantaloupe fresh meat, whitebait egg yolk, bug meat, oyster mushroom and shrimp, pine nut corn meat and other fresh combinations appear. Beef, snail meat, chicken, various fish and other aquatic products, fresh vegetables and fruits, various soy products, etc. are all fresh products to choose from. Among dry goods, kaiyang, scallops, mushrooms, sausages, salted fish, bacon, and pickles can also be stuffed. Among pickles, pickles, kohlrabi and dried radish are particularly popular.

Common Soup Ingredients

In the Jiangnan area, the relationship between wontons and soup is like fish and water. Chicken soup and meat bone soup are the best choices for soup base. However, most stores only add seasonings and seaweed to boiling water. Common soup ingredients include shredded egg skin, shredded mustard, dried shrimps, quail eggs, and chopped green onion.

How to make fillings

Because wonton skins are thin and not suitable for wrapping large ingredients, most of the ingredients need to be chopped; but for aesthetic reasons, shrimps are usually only peeled Processed, not minced. In addition to chopping, another manual method is "smashing", which is often used for flat food. But the most common way is to use mechanical grinding.

Common shapes

Round

Cylindrical

Semi-circular (similar to dumplings)

Rectangle (folded in half)

Triangular (folded diagonally)

Common types

Fresh meat wontons: mince the pork and green onions and stir them , wrapping it in wonton wrappers and cooking it is the most basic method.

Shrimp wontons: Guangdong is rich in seafood, and shrimp and pork are often used as ingredients.

Shrimp wontons: made from minced shrimp and pork.

Vegetable and meat wontons: pork with shredded Qingjiang vegetables, usually larger in size, also known as "vegetable and meat wontons".

Hongyou Chaoshou: Fresh meat wontons are usually eaten with a sauce based on spicy oil. It is a unique Sichuan cuisine.

Wonton noodles: cooked with wontons, noodles and soup. (See: Wonton Noodles)

Fried Wontons: Cooked in deep-fry.

Snacks: small pieces of rice cakes, honey cakes, cheese or fruits wrapped in wonton wrappers and fried.

Cross-cultural echoes

The Tortellini/Tortelloni in Italian pasta are very similar to the wontons in southern China in shape and wrapping method. Apart from the different dough recipes, the main difference lies in the fillings. Italian "ravioli" fillings are also rich and varied, with common combinations of various cheeses, tomatoes, ham, bacon, spinach, etc. Ravioli in Italian pasta is closer to folded and unpleated dumplings or Wenzhou ravioli in terms of wrapping method, and the filling combination is not much different from Tortellini/Tortelloni. (See: it: Ravioli it: Tortellini) There is also pelmyen, which is commonly eaten by various ethnic groups in Siberia, Russian Federation, and is closely related to wonton foods in China and Central Asia. Especially the black pepper in pelmyen must be imported from western China. The dumplings of Russian, Ukrainian and other ethnic groups are called vareniki or pirozhki, which are very similar to Chinese dumplings. In Korea and Turkic or Iranian-speaking countries, foods similar to Chinese "pot stickers" or fried dumplings, or "xiaolongbao" or "soup dumplings" are called manty, manti, mantu, mandu, etc., which are similar to The Chinese word "steamed buns" is undoubtedly a cognate noun.

Dumplings are a traditional specialty food loved by the Chinese people, also known as dumplings. It is a folk staple food and local snack in the north, as well as a New Year food. There is a folk saying: "During the great cold and the small cold, eat dumplings to celebrate the New Year." Dumplings are mostly made of dough and stuffed in water. Dumplings originated in the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Dumplings are mostly made with cold water and flour, rolled into a round skin with a slightly thicker middle and thinner edges, wrapped with fillings, and shaped into a crescent or angular shape. After wrapping, cook until the dumplings float to the surface. Dumpling wrappers can also be made with hot noodles, puff pastry noodles or rice noodles; the fillings can be meat or vegetarian, sweet or salty; mature methods can also be steamed, baked, pan-fried, fried, etc. The meat fillings include three delicacies, shrimp, crab roe, sea cucumber, Fish, chicken, pork, beef, mutton, chicken, etc., vegetarian fillings are divided into assorted vegetarian fillings and ordinary vegetarian fillings. The characteristics of dumplings are thin skin, tender filling, delicious taste, unique shape, and you will never get tired of eating them.

Origin

Dumplings originated from ancient slots. As early as the Three Kingdoms period, this food was mentioned in the book "Guangya" written by Wei Zhangyi. According to research, it developed from the "Moon-shaped Wonton" from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty and the "Dried Pork Double Slice" from the Southern Song Dynasty. It has a history of more than 1,400 years. Relevant historical records from the Qing Dynasty say: "On the first day of the New Year, a sumptuous meal is served together, like eating flat food, and the name is jiaozi, taking the meaning of the new year's handover." It is also said: "On the first day of every year, no matter rich or poor, no matter how high or low, all eat white flour. Making dumplings is called boiling dumplings, and it is the same throughout the country. A wealthy family secretly hides small gold and silver coins in the dumplings to predict good luck, and those who eat well will have good luck throughout the year. " This shows that people eat dumplings during the Spring Festival, which means good luck and to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. "Qingyi Leichao" compiled by Xu Ke, a recent scholar, said: "There is stuffing in the middle, or it is called vermicelli - it can be steamed, fried or fried. Boiled in water and made of soup, it is called dumplings." For thousands of years, As a New Year food, dumplings are loved by people and have become a custom that has been passed down to this day.

Allusions

The original name of dumplings is "Jiao Er". According to legend, it was the Chinese medical sage Zhang Zhongjing who first invented it. The story of his "Quhan Jiao Er Soup" has been passed down among the people to this day.

Zhang Zhongjing, Mingji, courtesy name Zhongjing, was a native of Nanyang in the Eastern Han Dynasty. He studied medical books diligently since he was a child, learned from many others' strengths, and became the founder of traditional Chinese medicine. He wrote "Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases", which is a collection of medical achievements and is regarded as a classic by doctors of all ages. Zhang Zhongjing has a famous saying: "If you advance, you will save the world; if you retreat, you will save the people; if you cannot be a good minister, you should also be a good doctor." Zhang Zhongjing is not only a good doctor, he can cure all difficult and complicated diseases, but also has noble medical ethics. He treats both poor and rich people. They all treated seriously and saved countless lives.

It is said that when Zhang Zhongjing was the governor of Changsha, he often cured diseases for the people. One year when the local plague was prevalent, he built a big pot at the yamen gate and gave up medicine to save people. He was deeply loved by the people of Changsha. After Zhang Zhongjing retired from Changsha and returned to his hometown, he happened to catch up with the winter solstice and walked to the bank of Baihe River in his hometown. He saw many poor people suffering from hunger and cold, and their ears were rotten by the frost. It turns out that typhoid fever was prevalent at that time, and many people died of the disease. He felt very sad and determined to save them. When Zhang Zhongjing returned home, there were so many people seeking medical treatment that he was very busy, but he always kept in mind the poor people whose ears were rotten by the cold. He imitated the method in Changsha and asked his disciples to set up a medical shed and a large pot on an open space in Dongguan, Nanyang. They opened it on the winter solstice and gave medicine to the poor to treat their injuries.

Zhang Zhongjing's medicine is called "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction", which is a summary of more than 300 years of clinical practice in the Han Dynasty. The method is to boil mutton, pepper and some cold-dispelling medicinal materials in a pot. After they are ready, these things are taken out and chopped into pieces, wrapped in dough into ear-shaped "Jiao Er", boiled in a pot and distributed to patients begging for medicine. Each person has two charming ears and a bowl of soup. After people eat the Quhan Decoction, their whole body feels warm, their blood becomes smooth, and their ears become warm. The common people ate it from the winter solstice to New Year's Eve, resisting typhoid fever and curing their frozen ears.

Zhang Zhongjing continued to give medicine until New Year's Eve. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, people celebrate the New Year and the recovery of rotten ears. They make New Year's food like Jiao Er and eat it on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year. People call this food "dumplings", "dumplings" or "flat food" and eat it on the winter solstice and the first day of the new year to commemorate the day when Zhang Zhongjing opened shed medicine and cured patients.

Zhang Zhongjing was born nearly 1800 years ago, but the story of his making "Jiao Er Tang to dispel cold" has been widely circulated among the people. Every winter solstice and New Year's Day, people eat dumplings and still remember Zhang Zhongjing's kindness in their hearts. Today, we no longer need to use Jiao'er to treat frozen rotten ears, but dumplings have become people's most common and favorite food.

Dumplings in ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad

Dumplings in ancient times

Dumplings have had many names during their long development process. In ancient times, there were "Laowan", "Bianshi" ", "Dumpling Bait", "Fan Jiao" and other names. In the Tang Dynasty, dumplings were called "Tangzhongluowan"; in the Yuan Dynasty, they were called "Shiluojiaoer"; in the late Ming Dynasty, they were called "Fenjiao"; in the Qing Dynasty, they were called "Bianshi".

Modern Dumplings

Nowadays, the names of dumplings are different in the north and the south. People in the north call it "dumplings", but many areas in the south call it "wontons". Dumplings have various names due to their different fillings, including pork dumplings, mutton dumplings, beef dumplings, three fresh dumplings, red oil dumplings, stock dumplings, flower vegetable dumplings, fish dumplings, crystal dumplings, etc. In addition, because of its mature method Different, there are fried dumplings, steamed dumplings, etc. Therefore, eating dumplings on the first day of the new year is a good enjoyment in spirit and taste.

People in northern my country have a custom of making dumplings when welcoming relatives and friends during festivals. Especially on the first day of the Lunar New Year, when the whole family has finished their New Year greetings, they sit together and chat while making dumplings. They talk about all kinds of things, which attracts laughter and laughter from time to time. It is a lot of fun. "Everyone loves to eat dumplings, and dumplings are especially delicious during New Year's dinner." When people eat this smooth, delicious and delicious water cake, if they know more about its origin, who can not marvel at the long-standing pasta wonders of our ancient civilization!

There are many famous dumplings from all over China, such as shrimp dumplings made from Chengfen in Guangdong, potsticker dumplings in Shanghai, steamed crab roe dumplings in Yangzhou, soup dumplings from Shandong, Laobian dumplings from Northeast China, and Sichuan dumplings. Zhong Shui Dumplings, etc., are all popular varieties.

Xi'an also created a dumpling banquet, which uses dozens of dumplings with different shapes and fillings to entertain guests.

Many foreigners, like Chinese, also eat dumplings during the Spring Festival, but their cooking and eating methods have their own characteristics.

Foreign dumplings

Korean dumplings

are filled with beef, and they especially like to add a lot of chili peppers to the beef filling. The dumplings are made in a half-moon shape. .

Vietnamese dumplings

It is filled with fish, and a large amount of orange peel, pork, and eggs are added to the filling. The dumplings are the opposite of North Korean dumplings, with each one lying on its back.

Russian dumplings

Russian dumplings are filled with beef, carrots, eggs, onions, salt and MSG, but they also add some minced chili peppers to the dumpling fillings, and the buns are large Big, they use clear soup made from beef bones to cook dumplings. However, drinking boiled dumpling soup is the first course, and eating dumplings is the second course.

Indian dumplings

The ingredients and methods are similar to Russian dumplings, except they are larger, but they are grilled instead of boiled.

Mexican dumplings

They use onions, beef, tomatoes, and parsley as fillings. The dumpling wrappers are not rolled, but pressed into a rectangular shape by hand. The wrapped dumplings are not boiled in water, but cooked in seasoned soup with tomatoes, peppers, and onions. After eating the dumplings, drink the soup again, "the original soup becomes the original food."

Italian dumplings

The fillings are very different from those in China. Cheese, onions, and egg yolks are the main ingredients, and sometimes some spinach and beef are added. Another type is based on chicken and cheese. Ingredients, the main seasonings include butter, onion, lemon peel, and nutmeg. To make dumplings, they press the dough into a long strip, put the filling in a spoonful, dip the edge of the dough into water, then press the same strip of dough together, and then cut each one with a knife. The method of cooking dumplings is the same as the Chinese.

Hungarian dumplings

Strictly speaking, the filling is jam, and even plums, apricots, and plums are also pickled for filling. The noodles they use to make dumplings are made with twice as much mashed potatoes as flour, a lot of lard, eggs, sugar and salt, and are also wrapped in fried bread crumbs.

Be particular about making dumplings on New Year’s Eve.

It is one of the most important contents of the Chinese New Year in the vast areas of northern my country. Dumplings on New Year's Eve are an important part of the festival, so there are many rules and customs. These customs are all to match the atmosphere of the New Year.

The importance of dumpling fillings

Dumplings are no longer just a delicacy, but when you mention the representative of Chinese cuisine to your friends, they will all mention it. Every part of it contains Chinese national culture. Basically, it is a must-have delicacy for every family on the 30th night, and expresses people's yearning and demands for a better life. But how can we promote the culture of dumplings? Let me introduce to you the culture of dumpling stuffing:

1) Celery stuffing-meaning diligence and wealth

Qin: means often, and there is a steady stream of diligence (frequent), which is called Qincai

2) Leek stuffing - means long-lasting wealth

Jiu: means long time and long time, it is called long-term wealth

3) Cabbage stuffing- That means a hundred kinds of wealth

Hundred: a quantifier that means a hundred kinds, a hundred kinds, called a hundred kinds of wealth

4) Mushroom stuffing—meaning to drum up wealth

Drum: that is, high and protruding. The shape of the mushroom is like an upward arrow, or it may be the trend of the stock market. It means upward and full, which is called encouraging wealth

5) Pickled cabbage filling- It means calculating wealth

Accounting means accounting and liquidation.

If the money is so much that one night is counted, how much is it? It's called fortune telling

6) Meat and vegetable stuffing - it means wealth

Yes: It exists. Anyone who has seen Zhao Benshan's sketches will forget that "if you have wealth, too much" "Wealthy!" What about this famous saying? It is said to have wealth

7) Fish and meat stuffing - it means surplus wealth

Yu: that is, the surplus, the extra, I wish you more every year, it is called surplus wealth

9) Beef stuffing—meaning cattle wealth

Niu: meaning bullishness, the favorite among stock traders, you can make really good money! Cows are called cow wealth

10) Mutton stuffing - means foreign wealth

Yang: means vast, numerous; wider than the sea. Let the money storm come more violently! It’s called foreign wealth

11) Jujube stuffing—meaning to attract wealth

Zhao: It means summoning, like the God of Wealth. The wealth in the world is at your disposal, which is called Zhao. Wealth

12) Wild vegetable stuffing - means wild wealth

Wild: means the wild, or it may be an accident. Let me ask, who doesn’t like green and healthy windfalls? It's called wild wealth

13) Caisheng - means the arrival of wealth

The arrival of wealth: means the arrival of wealth, the arrival of the God of Wealth, and the meaning of accepting wealth. Vegetable stuffing, that is, vegetarian stuffing or vegetable stuffing, is called wealth.

14) Sweet stuffing-meaning to add wealth

Tiancai: means to increase or increase. They are sweets, glutinous rice balls, moon cakes, etc.; they are also homophonic with genius, which is called adding wealth

Speciality in the shape of dumplings

There are also particularities in the shape of dumplings made on New Year's Eve, in most areas Get used to keeping the traditional crescent shape. When making this shape, fold the dough in half and knead it along the semicircular edge with the thumb and index finger of your right hand. Knead it carefully and evenly, which is called "kneading blessing". Some farmers pinch the two corners of a crescent-shaped dumpling together to form a "yuanbao" shape and place it on the curtain, symbolizing wealth everywhere and the house full of gold and silver. Some farmers also knead the dumplings with wheat ear-shaped patterns, like plump and huge ears of wheat, symbolizing a bumper harvest in the new year. But more importantly, the dumplings are wrapped in several shapes, which indicates that the house will be full of wealth, the warehouse will be full of grain, and the life will be prosperous in the coming year.

The importance of placing dumplings

Dumplings made on New Year's Eve are not only particular about their shape, but also their placement. First of all, it cannot be placed randomly. As the saying goes: "You are so busy that you don't let the dumplings go around." When making dumplings every day, you can arrange them horizontally or vertically as you like, but this cannot be done for the New Year's Eve dumplings.

In Shandong and other places, round curtains are used. First, a few ingot-shaped dumplings are placed in the middle, and then they are arranged neatly layer by layer around the ingots. Folk custom goes: " Circle blessing". Some families even stipulate that no matter how big or small the curtains are, only 99 curtains can be placed on each curtain, and they must be covered with curtains. Therefore, it can only be achieved by adjusting the spacing and row spacing of dumplings, which is called "endless happiness."

There is an interesting story in folklore about this custom: A long time ago, in a poor mountain village, there was a very poor family who often had no meal at all. On the New Year's Eve, there was no flour or vegetables at home. I listened to the sound of chopping vegetables all around and felt anxious. I had no choice but to borrow rice and noodles from relatives and friends. After making the noodles, I randomly mixed in some mixed vegetables to make the filling, and then made the dumplings. Because the noodles are borrowed, the dumplings are especially precious. When placed, they are placed in a circle from the inside to the outside, very neat and beautiful. The Kitchen God, who had just returned from heaven, was very happy to see it. There was a rich man in the same village. His family had a fortune. He was used to eating delicacies from all over the world, so he didn't take dumplings seriously at all. On New Year's Eve, stuffings with meat, eggs and other ingredients are used to make dumplings and placed randomly on the curtain. After the dumplings are cooked, their taste changes completely. Pork filling turned into radish dish. But that poor family's dumplings turned out to be stuffed with meat and eggs. It turned out that the Kitchen God was very dissatisfied with the rich man's attitude towards making dumplings. In order to punish him, he secretly mixed the dumplings from the two families. The next day, the news spread in the village. From then on, no matter how busy people are, the New Year's Eve dumplings must be arranged neatly to get a "lucky circle".

But in farmers in some areas of Heilongjiang, dumplings cannot be placed in a circle.

It is said that arranging dumplings in a circle will make the days worse and worse. They must be arranged in horizontal rows so that money can flow in all directions.

Essentials for cooking dumplings

Dumplings are not only made but also eaten on New Year’s Eve. As the saying goes: "Eat dumplings on New Year's Eve - no outsiders." It means that dumplings for New Year's Eve dinner are a symbol of family reunion. Dumplings on this day are eaten on New Year's Eve. They not only mean family reunion, but also have the meaning of renewing friendship. The custom of eating dumplings on New Year's Eve has a long history, at least in the Yuan and Ming Dynasties. "History of the Ming Palace" records the custom of eating dumplings during the New Year. "At the fifth watch..., eat water and snacks, that is, flat food." After being passed down and perfected, the custom of eating dumplings on New Year's Eve was formed in later generations, which was regarded as the meaning of saying goodbye to the old and renewing. Dumplings on New Year's Eve are accompanied by the sound of firecrackers to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new. The dumplings are put into a boiling pot, cooked and taken out. They are first offered to the gods and ancestors, and then eaten with other foods.

There is also something special about cooking dumplings on New Year’s Eve. The firewood used to make the fire should be bean straw or sesame straw, because the fire will become more and more prosperous, and the days of the coming year will be like the blooming sesame seeds. When cooking dumplings in the pot, do not stir them randomly with a shovel. Instead, shovel them in one direction against the edge of the pot to form a round shape, which is the same as placing the dumplings. In eastern Shandong, boiled dumplings are usually cooked to break a few, but taboo words such as broken, broken, rotten, etc. should not be used, but should be said to be "earned" or "raised". Because there are vegetables in the dumplings, and the vegetables are homophones for "wealth", so the dumplings are "earned", which means "earning wealth". They are for good luck and luck, so as to increase the joyful atmosphere of New Year's Eve. In some places in central Gansu, when cooking dumplings on New Year's Eve, a little noodles are added to cook and eat together, which is euphemistically called "silver-wrapped ingots." The noodles should be thin and the dumplings should be wrapped in the shape of ingots, which symbolizes longevity and wealth. It is also auspicious and expresses people's good wishes.

There are also customary rules when eating dumplings. The first bowl must be offered first, to the ancestors and to the gods. The dumplings offered here are also very particular. There is a saying among the people in Hebei that "three gods and four ghosts". That is to offer 3 bowls with 3 dumplings in each bowl to the gods; 4 bowls with 4 dumplings in each bowl are offered to the ancestors; only the Kitchen God is the least respected, and only 1 bowl of dumplings is served in the bowl. Only one can be served, but some people feel sorry for themselves and just serve a few. In some places, after the dumplings are brought to the offering table, the elderly in the family will recite a prayer-like jingle devoutly, such as:

A flat piece of food with two pointed ends,

put it into the pot. Thousands.

Scoop with a golden spoon, carry it in a silver bowl,

Bring it to the table to respect God.

The gods like it when they see it.

It guarantees peace all year round.

The second bowl of dumplings should be served to the livestock to show love for the livestock. In the old days, large livestock such as cows and horses were the main working tools of farmers. People also hoped that livestock would have a safe and successful year just like people. The family started eating the third bowl. There are many kinds of New Year's Eve dinner on New Year's Eve, but you don't have to eat anything else, only dumplings are a must. Remember when eating, it is better to eat even numbers, not odd numbers. Some elderly people at home recite old sayings such as "there are many vegetables (money), there are many vegetables" while eating. After a meal, a few (an even number) must be deliberately left on the plates and bowls used to hold dumplings, even the pots used to cook dumplings, and the curtains on which raw dumplings are placed, which is called "more than enough every year." Even the vegetable fillings and dough used to make dumplings must have "surplus".

Dumpling proverbs

On October 1st, when the winter solstice arrives, every household eats dumplings

This custom was left in memory of the "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing who gave away medicine during the winter solstice. of. See the "Allusions" section above for details.

The more you drink, the better the dumplings will become.

It means the days will get better and better

Dumplings on the head and noodles on the other side

Futian is the time of year. There are "three volts" in a year when the temperature is the highest, it is humid and sultry. This is what the common people call the "bitter summer". When entering Fu, the wheat harvest is less than a month old, and every household's barn is full. People take advantage of this opportunity to make tooth sacrifices and eat white noodles. The dumplings are rare and top-quality, so there is a saying of "Toufu dumplings and Erfu noodles". statement.

Winter Solstice Dumplings and Summer Solstice Noodles

On the Summer Solstice, noodles are commonly eaten in various parts of Shandong, commonly known as "crossing the water surface". There is a proverb of "Winter Solstice Dumplings and Summer Solstice Noodles".

Eating dumpling soup is better than prescribing medicine

According to legend, in the early years of the Warring States Period, Bian Que, the genius doctor in Qincheng, rejuvenated himself and cured everything. One winter, it was the first severe cold in a century. Many people suffered from frostbite, and some even had their ears frozen. What should I do? Bian Que, the miracle doctor, took white flour, rolled it into the shape of an ear, and stuck it on the roots of the ears that had been frozen off. Then he used some magic power to restore the ears to their original appearance. He also decoctioned the cold-resistant herbs and gave them to the patient. The patient felt all over his body. A warm current flows throughout my body, and I am no longer afraid of the cold. In order to commemorate Bian Que, the god who had both superb medical skills and a benevolent heart to relieve people's pain, later generations made ear-shaped food from flour and cooked it in an herbal soup to keep out the cold. This is where the saying comes from. .