Rows Of Typical Chinese Cakes And The Meaning Of Their Presentation

JAKARTA - Chinese New Year is closely related to a number of unique traditions. Apart from praying to the ancestors, there are usually offerings and banquets in the form of cakes and specialties.

The cake that is served is not just any cake, but a special cake with a philosophical meaning contained in it.

Want to know anything? Here are various kinds of typical Chinese cakes and their meanings that will complement the celebration of Chinese New Year.

Moon cakes or mooncakes are usually eaten by ancient Chinese to celebrate the Autumn Festival. This traditional cake has been around since the Ming Dynasty. This round cake symbolizes roundness and wholeness. So, anyone who eats this cake is expected to get complete sustenance, prosperity and health.

The next Chinese New Year cake is Sunrise Pie. Its shape that resembles the sun is believed to bring enlightenment for the next year.

Basket cake is called nian gao in Mandarin. The word nian means year and gao means cake. It sounds like the word high, so the basket cake is served in an arranged manner. This arrangement implies an increase in fortune or prosperity in the new year.

Ong Lei cake is a typical Chinese New Year cake that almost resembles nastar. This cake is served during Chinese New Year celebrations with the hope that good luck will follow throughout the year. Ong Lei cake is the only Chinese pastry with a dry texture.

Diamond cakes are also believed to bring good luck. This cake made from glutinous rice and brown sugar has a sweet, sticky taste. This cake in the shape of a parallelogram and similar to a mountain is believed to symbolize ideals. When eaten, it is hoped that all the goals will be achieved in the new year.

In addition, its rather tall shape also symbolizes hope for the family. Sticky texture indicates the closeness of the whole family can be a sweet thing in the new year.

On the island of Java, many people call this cake Thok Cake. The bright red color that is the identity of this cake symbolizes prosperity. Ku cakes are usually printed with carved images or letters that symbolize good luck in the new year.

The sweetness of this cake also signifies good luck, longevity and health throughout the year.