[WHO? Juin Wen aka. Vabien]
[BIRTHDATE: 11 July]
[CHARACTER: Crazy, Emo, Weird, Kind, Fun Loving, Wacky, etc.]
[FAVOURITES: Eating & Drinking, Cooking, Chatting, Chilling Out with Cliques, Movies and Drama Serials, Reading, Music, Learn New Stuffs, Trying Out Adventurous and Exciting Stuffs...]
[CONTACT: style_987@hotmail.com]
Origins:
In the south of ancient China there was once a majestic palace that was in construction. One day, the emperor came to the site for an inspection. He was very satisfied with the progress of the palace as even every little detail was also taken care of. He commented that the person-in-charge seems the most outstanding, thus he conferred upon him the title of Master.This time as the artisans (eg. carpenters, tinsmiths, painters, etc.) felt it was unfair and tired to convince the emperor that they should be made a master so the emperor reached a conclusion and made everyone a master.
By this time, word had reach the kitchen about the conferring of titles. The head of the kitchen felt that if it weren't for their food, the artisans would not accomplish anything. So she went to the emperor and request for a title too. When the artisans heard of her request, they laughed and mocked at her, as they considered cooking not a skill cause if the cooks were also conferred a title, the title won't be worth much. After hearing that the kitchen head stomped away in anger back to the kitchen, she instructed her helper to stop cooking and left the kitchen.
When the lunch bell rang, the artisans proceeded to the lunch hall to their surprised they saw nothing on the tables except empty ricebowls and chopsticks. The kitchen head told the artisans that if cooking weren't considered a skill, they should cook for themselves. They went to the kitchen to search for any food but all they could find was only a bucket of uncooked grains. They pondered for a while on how to cook the grains but they could not think of any ways to cook the grains. They reported this matter to the emperor, which puzzled him for a moment. He told the artisans off, there are so many skilled people around and yet when it comes to a bucket of uncooked rice everyone are clueless. After a united decision, everyone agree that cooking was consider a skill. All this while the kitchen head and her helper were at the side watching the commotion and came forward to receive their titles. The kitchen head suggested that they should be ranked higher than the rest as when there are hundreds of masters here yet none could prepare food. The emperor agree and conferred upon the kitchen head as great master and her helper as second-ranking master. The following day happened to be Dong Zhi(Winter Solstice Festival), so as to celebrate her title and the festival, she promise everyone that there will be glutinous rice balls, won ton, dumplings and red bean porridge for lunch the next day. From then on, that became the staple food of people in the south on Dong Zhi and slowly the tradition of eating tang yuan on Dong Zhi spread to the rest of China.
Traditions:
There is a saying that "Dong Da Guo Nian", Which means that the winter solstice festival is more important than the lunar new year. This saying is actually said by the Cantonese so that's why the Cantonese celebrate this festival almost like the lunar new year, which the feast is sumptuous In the night, there will be a reunion dinner and all family members would come together to have a meal, even if they are overseas. Another tradition is also to consume glutinous rice balls called tang yuan, which signify families would be united and will stay together through thick or thin. This festival happens on every 15th of the 12th lunar month.
The sumptuous "Dong Zhi" Dinner...caught by my grandma taking it...haha...
The salty version: Glutinous rice balls in a clear broth topped with meat, cabbage and chopped spring onion, with a pinch of pepper...
The sweet version: Glutinous rice balls in a ginger-pandan flavoured soup...I prefer this one...haha...