Special Purchases for Spring Festival
Traditionally, the tray was made of wood, with eight interior dishes of
porcelain, but nowadays many people opt for plastic. I prefer the look of
rosewood - it shows more class.
The tray usually contains an inner set of eight compartments to help keep the
goodies separated. Each compartment is filled with a special symbolic food:
o Candy Melon (growth and good health) o Coconut (unity) o Kumquat
(gold; for prosperity) o Longan (many good sons) o Lotus Seeds
(fertility) o Lychee Nut (close family relationships)o Peanuts
(longevity) o Red Melon Seeds (red; for happiness, joy, honesty and
sincerity)
|