Legendary of Fortune Cookies

What will your fortune be? Crack! Crack, Open up a cookie and find out……Fortune cookies (幸运签语饼)

Fortune cookies did not originate in China. In fact, fortune cookies are not found in China at all. Fortune cookies are an American tradition invented in the United States.

Although the fortune cookie was created in the United States, the idea may have been based on Chinese history. It is a Chinese custom to put messages in cakes and sweets. According to legend, in the late 1400s, moon cakes were used to pass messages.

One legend does ascribe a Chinese origin, claiming that in the fourteenth century, to stave off Mongolian invasion, communicated strategies by hiding messages in moon cakes. Actually argue that fortune cookies are American, immigrant Chinese railroad workers in tha US, without the ingredients to make regular mooncakes, made biscuits instead. It is these biscuits that may have later inspired fortune cookies.

Calamansi or Tangerine Fruits

Calamansi or tangerine fruits see when visiting family or friends anytime during the Chinese New Year celebration. Tangerines with leaves intact assure that one's relationship with the other remains secure. For newlyweds, this represents the branching of the couple into a family with many children. Calamansi or tangerines are symbols for abundant and safe happiness. (大吉大利).

The calamansi is usually described as a cross between Citrus reticulata (Tangerine or Mandarin orange).Like other citrus fruits, the calamansi is high in vitamin C

Candy Tray

When visiting relatives, its customary for them to offer guests tea, along with a round or octagonal tray filled with a variety of treats, from nuts to sweets. The candy tray arranged in either a circle or octagon is called "The Tray of Togetherness" “和睦托盘” After taking several pieces of candy from the tray, Each item represents some kind of good fortune.

* Candied melon - growth and good health

* Cumquat - prosperity (gold)

* Coconut - (unity)

* Lychee nut - strong family relationships

* Longan - many good sons

* Lotus seed - many children

* Peanuts - long life

* Red melon seed - dyed red to symbolize joy, happiness, truth and sincerity

Nian Gao, Year Cake or Sticky Cake

It is believed that on the Chinese New Year’s eve, Chinese New year gods ascend to heaven to pay their respects and also report on the household chores to the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝 Yù huáng dà dì), the supreme Taoist deity. A week before the New Year, the Kitchen God (灶神), which watches the family, is offered Nián gāo , Year cake or Chinese sticky cake is a food prepared from glutinous rice. 粘 (Nián), meaning "sticky", is identical in sound to 年, meaning "year", and the word 糕 (gāo), meaning "cake" is identical in sound to 高, meaning "high"). .

So that he submits a favourable report and sealed his mouth from saying bad things about the family in heaven and meets the supreme deity. During the worship, people always say 上天言好事，下界保平安 shàng tiān yán hǎo shì, xià jiè bǎo píng ‘ān – report the good deeds in Heaven, bring the blessing to earth

恭喜发财

The literal translation of “Gong Xi” is “to wish” and “Fa Cai” means “to prosper”.
So “Gong Xi Fa Cai” means “I wish that you will be prosperous”.