China News Service, Beijing, February 14th (Wang Qian) A lively "Welcoming the God of Wealth" ceremony, steaming "Five Blessings" dumplings, and interesting theatrical performances... On February 14th, the fifth party in Yanqi Town, Huairou District, Beijing The annual "Dumpling Banquet" was held, attracting citizens and tourists to come and seek "good luck".
Setting up the stove, heating hot water, preparing dumplings... At dawn on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Shuling, deputy secretary of the Party branch of Fangezhuang Village, Yanqi Town, Huairou District, led the villagers to get busy, "For today's dumpling feast, we Preparations started on the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month, and more than 30 dumpling-making experts were selected in the village."
On February 14, 2024, the fifth "Dumpling Banquet" was held in Yanqi Town, Huairou District, Beijing, attracting citizens and tourists to come for "good luck." Photo courtesy of Yanqi Town
At the gate of the Guan Gong Temple on the ancient street of Yancheng, five large pots are set up, symbolizing blessing, wealth, longevity, happiness and wealth respectively, and are called the "Five Blessing Stoves". Next to it are plates of "Wufu dumplings" in pink, green, purple, yellow and white. "These are the 'Five Blessings' dumplings we made with dragon juice, spinach juice, purple cabbage juice, carrot juice, and white color." Wang Shuling said that these dumplings were made by the villagers in advance, including pork, green onion, pork and fennel. There are a lot of fillings waiting, including more than 800 kilograms and more than 20,000 dumplings, which will be cooked and given to citizens and tourists for free.
At ten o'clock in the morning, the aroma of the "Five Blessing Stove" in front of the Guan Gong Temple on Yancheng Ancient Street filled the air, and citizens and tourists lined up in a long queue. Accompanied by the sound of "'Wufu Dumplings' are coming out of the pot!", Ms. Wang, a citizen, became the lucky person to get the first "Wufu Dumplings". "I came to line up early to ask for a good fortune." Ms. Wang said while holding the steaming dumplings. "Everyone eats colorful dumplings together. They are not only beautiful, but also have good meanings. What you eat is not only Dumplings, and full of blessings, this is how the Chinese New Year should be!"
In addition to new fans like Ms. Wang, there are also many citizen tourists who are "old fans" of "Dumpling Feast". "Since the 'Dumpling Banquet' was held in 2016, our family has come to eat dumplings every fifth day of the Lunar New Year. We feel that the atmosphere is particularly good." said Ms. Li, a villager who lives nearby.
On February 14, 2024, the fifth "Dumpling Banquet" was held in Yanqi Town, Huairou District, Beijing, attracting citizens and tourists to come for "good luck." Photo courtesy of Yanqi Town
"This year, we also held a dumpling banquet at Dingxiu Meiquan Shopping Street simultaneously." Xiao Bing, deputy mayor of Yanqi Town, Huairou District, said that Dingxiu Meiquan Shopping Street is a characteristic shopping street with a strong European style. Come here to participate during the Chinese New Year Folk activities, try "Wufu Dumplings", which has a unique flavor.
"We also specially invited five representatives from scientific research institutes and enterprises in Huairou Science City to taste the 'Wufu Dumplings'." Xiao Bing said that scientists in Huairou should be allowed to experience unique features such as the Yancheng New Year Temple Fair in Yanqi Town, Huairou, and the "Wufu Dumplings" banquet. The charm of folk cultural activities and feel the festive atmosphere of celebrating the New Year in Huai.
"In addition to eating dumplings, we also arranged the traditional custom of 'welcoming the God of Wealth' on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year for citizens and tourists," Xiao Bing said.
On Yancheng Ancient Street, an 80-person "Welcome the God of Wealth" honor guard paraded along the street, attracting citizens and tourists to stop and watch. "It feels very wonderful to see the traditional custom of 'Welcoming the God of Wealth' parade in such quaint streets and alleys." Mr. Zhang, a citizen, thinks this is a good way to popularize traditional cultural knowledge. "I watched it and told it to my children. For example, the fifth day of the Lunar New Year is also called 'Powu', and there is a custom of eating dumplings and welcoming the God of Wealth. If he can see it in action, he will be very interested."
On the same day, there were acrobatics, opera and other cultural performances, folk parades such as car shows and dragon dances, traditional delicacies such as beige and hometown sausage, and traditional intangible cultural heritage displays such as Xizhazi Jingwei technology and sand swallow auspicious birds... In addition to the "dumpling feast" and " "Welcome the God of Wealth" parade, and a variety of activities make citizens celebrate the New Year happily. (over)