Chinese New Year Snacks 中国新年零食

Candied haw

冰糖葫芦

Traditionally a winter-time snack, candied haw can now be enjoyed in any season.

Hawthorn ball kebabs are drizzled and coated with malt syrup. The balls can be substituted or added to with red bean paste, walnuts, grapes, begonia fruit and even Chinese yams.

Candied haw is like a magic pill. According to folktales, the favorite concubine of a Song Dynasty emperor fell sick. None of the imperial doctors knew what to do. The Emperor issued a public notice for all doctors in the country to come and try.One prescribed iced candy and red fruit. Everyone was doubtful, but the concubine liked this taste. They tried it and after eating 10 pieces before every meal for half a month, she really did recover.

冰糖葫芦本是传统的冬日小吃，但现在可以在任何季节享用到了。

山楂球串淋上麦芽糖浆，将其包裹起来，也可以替换或添加红豆沙、核桃仁、葡萄、海棠果、甚至山药。

冰糖葫芦就像一颗神奇药丸。民间相传，宋朝皇帝的爱妃生病了，所有太医都束手无策，皇帝召见全国所有大夫进宫治病。其中一剂方药是涂着冰糖的红色水果，每个人都很怀疑，但爱妃非常喜欢。每次饭前吃10颗，坚持了半个月，爱妃竟完全康复了。

Candied figures

捏糖人

Malt syrup is also a resource for more delicate art.捏糖人—literally “squeezed candy people”—have more than 600 years of history. In the winter, they can be seen alongside busy streets and small neighborhoods.

Through blowing, stretching, squeezing and use of tools (ex: toothpicks and chopsticks), the malt is shaped into various figures.

During Chinese New Year, they’re commonly shaped into the zodiac animal of the year or auspicious symbols. Not only are they a fun snack, they’re also important cultural artifacts.

麦芽糖浆也用于一种更为精美的艺术创作。捏糖人--如字面上的意思--用糖挤出的小人--已经拥有超过600多年的历史。在冬天，繁华的街道或胡同小巷里都能见到它的身影。通过吹、拉、挤压并使用工具（如牙签和筷子），将麦芽糖变化为各种形状。

而在过年的时候，它们通常会被做成12生肖或吉祥符号。它不只是一种小吃，更是重要的文化遗产。

Persimmon Cakes

柿饼

While waiting for midnight on New Year’s Eve, many will snack on some persimmon cakes. Fruits are always an auspicious treat. Persimmons represent the phrase “everything goes according to your wishes”(事事如意） because of the pun for the word “shì.”

There was also a king named Zubing(祖丙)who was well loved by his people. After his death, the people chose lunar December 5 as the memorial day. Persimmon cakes were used as offerings because the name sounds similar to思丙—to commemorate Zubing.

在除夕夜等待跨年的时候，人们常会吃一点柿饼。水果常代表某种吉祥物，柿子象征着“事事如意”，因为谐音shi。

曾经有个叫祖丙的皇帝，深受国民的爱戴。在他死后，将农历十二月五日定为纪念日。柿饼被用为贡品，因为它的读音与思丙 相似--以此来缅怀祖丙。