Strange Andy that it was just yesterday that I was reminded of this annual festival which falls on 22 Dec - three days before Christmas. When young, I used to help my mother make them -right from rolling the dough to forming the 'yuan'. Didn't particularly like eating them - found them too sweet. In later years, we could buy the ready made dough from the market.
I prefer the 'ah boh leng' -a larger version of the tang yuan sold in some food centres. The fillings come in a range of red beans, peanuts, sesame... Sorry, I've not had them for some years and thus have forgotten the other fillings and the price of this dessert.
This is a cultural festival and will soon be lost if the young ones are not made aware - yes, lost to such western influence as 'Halloween'.
Written by the late CYLin on 22.12.2016.
With thanks to Jimmy Chng.
What Ms Lin said is true. We should focus also on the local festivities that will soon be lost if we don't celebrate them annually.
Comments are encouraged.
Mai Tang Yuan: Jing Yin Fang - Topic
YouTube Video from: Universal Music Group
The Legendary Chinese Hits Volume 19:
Fang Jing Yin - Mai Tang Yuan
℗ 1957 EMI (HK) Ltd.
Do you know the difference?
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Andy's Comment:
Actually what attracted me as a child was this cute custom, that is: you eat the number of Tang Yuan according to your age, and at 8 years old I was allowed 8 balls. But here's the nice thing about my mum. "After that," she says, "you can eat as many, as long as you don't get sick..."
Happy Winter Solstice to all this 2023 year of the Rabbit who will soon disappear because the dragon is coming around the corner.
10 comments:
A very interesting article but unfortunately I don't have any recollection of these sweet treats. Guess I didn't get an opportunity.
Tang Yuen has many meanings in China.
Christmas, New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali BUT DON'T FORGET 'TANG YUAN' 🙂 Festivities all year round. But say a prayer for those in turmoil overseas..
Andy Young
Thanks to all who reacted to this post positively, especially new friends who, hopefully, are really reading this post.
Yes, TIN YU please explain the meanings, a few, if you can.
Hiroshi Deguchi
Different places, different customs. In japan some people float some small citrus fruits in the bath during the winter solstice.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi thanks, my friend. Interesting indeed. Any Japanese song to go with the tradition?
Hiroshi Deguchi
There are no songs, I'm afraid associated with the winter solstice. It is a custom to eat pumpkin. It would be nice to have "Sukiyaki" on cold winter evening but of course it's not everyday dish.
Andy Young
Hiroshi Deguchi ah, interesting. Thanks for the food choice information.
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THANKS TO THE READERS ABOVE
WHO LIKE OR LOVE THIS POST
Freda Hanum
Happy Winter Solstice or happy Tang Yuan festival to you Andy...as for me all Chinese festivals I know how to eat only hehehe😆
Andy Young
Freda Hanum hi, thanks for the greetings. Yes, just enjoy yourself but stay safe and mask up... 🙂
Andy Young
And BETTS MANRY-CHUA. Hello. Hope's all's well with you back home. Heard the Winterfall is heavy this year?
Joey Koh
👏👏WELL DONE! THANK YOU for Sharing, brother Andy Young 👍🙏💖
As a Peranakan family, my Mum will prepare the plain white glutinous balls cooked in a soup made of coconut milk enhanced with gula melaka and some ginger. Sedap. We called it 'tung chek' day.
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