Dumplings are an essential dish for Lunar New Year's Eve in northern China, and eating dumplings is an important feast that any other cuisine cannot replace.
Nowadays, in northern China, the entire family usually stays up late on New Year's Eve until the new year arrives. Having "Jiaozi" (dumplings) at the right time means saying goodbye to the passing year and hello to the new year.
What's more, the shape of a jiaozi is just like a gold yuanbao, an ancient currency, so people eat Jiaozi at the dinner with the wish that they will have prosperity in the new year. Some cooks will hide a coin inside a jiaozi, and whoever finds it is said to have good luck in the coming year.
During the Chinese New Year, many people travel thousands of miles back to their homes just to eat the dumplings they make with their parents. Northeast dumplings are not just a taste of home, but a symbol of family reunion, and a warm memory that one will still recall after many years.
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