The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is an important Chinese tradition with a long history. This festival typically falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, which corresponds to September or October in the Gregorian calendar. There are several distinctive customs associated with this festival, and here are three of the main ones:
1. Eating Mooncakes
One of the iconic customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival is making and sharing mooncakes. Mooncakes are round pastries filled with various flavors such as lotus seed paste, red bean paste, or salted egg yolk. The round shape of mooncakes symbolizes reunion, and the salted egg yolk represents the full moon. Many families use traditional wooden mooncake molds to craft these delectable treats. Mooncake making at home is not only a labor of love but also a way to pass down cherished recipes through generations. It's a perfect opportunity to use your wooden mooncake mold and share the homemade mooncakes with loved ones.
2. Tea Drinking and Moon watching
Another significant tradition of the Mid-Autumn Festival is the custom of drinking tea and admiring the moon outdoors. People bring their favorite tea leaves and tea sets, finding a comfortable spot to appreciate the moon's beauty while sipping on various tea blends. This custom emphasizes gratitude toward nature and family, providing a serene moment to enjoy the bright full moon.
3. Carrying Lanterns
Kids carry lanterns during Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, making the night even more colorful. These lanterns come in various shapes and sizes and are illuminated with candles or LED lights. The tradition of carrying lanterns dates back to ancient times and symbolizes light and happiness, adding a festive atmosphere to the occasion. Carrying lanterns can be a delightful DIY project for families, creating unique lantern designs together.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an essential cultural holiday, and these customs emphasize the values of family reunion, gratitude toward nature, and respect for tradition. Whether it's crafting homemade mooncakes using a wooden mooncake mold, enjoying a tea ceremony while admiring the moon, or carrying lanterns to illuminate the night, these customs are integral parts of Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations and reflect the rich cultural heritage of China.
Moon festival collection:
The Rabbit is quiet, tender and kind, yet it moves quickly and is very clever. There is an old Chinese saying that “a crafty rabbit has three burrows (hole-homes).", which implies that the rabbit not only has many ideas but also is good at adapting to the environment. These characters allow them to protect themselves during times of danger or when the situation is not favorable.
Don’t forget to join us in celebrating the Year of the Rabbit on 28-29 Jan in Chinatown.
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The Chinese knot is one of the well-known Chinese icons. The knotting techniques date back as early as 476 BC when the knots were mainly used for recording and regulating things. Later, knotting developed additional meanings in poetry and literature as knots are pronounced the same as "connecting" and "bonding," symbolizing love and togetherness.
The symmetry of Chinese knots also represents Chinese decorative customs and aesthetic ideas.
Chinese knots are also the motif of our website.
Writing 福 (Fu, happiness/good luck) is an important tradition during Chinese New Year. It needs to be done with the old-fashioned ink brush on red Xuan paper. Nobody's handwriting of 福 is the same in size and style, resulting in countless variants.
People hang their handwriting on doors and windows for good luck in the new year, or they send them to friends or family.
Now you understand why the 福 character always appears in auspicious designs and festive decorations.
The lion dance is a centuries-old tradition originating from China. It is meant to bring good luck in the coming new year or for new businesses. Usually, a lion is made up of two dancers. One dancer controls the head, and the other controls the tail. They dance to the beat of a big drum.
Lion dancers wear colorful costumes, which can weigh as much as 10kg (more than 20 pounds).
Cranes (鹤 Hè) hold an important place in Chinese mythology. Various myths involving cranes associate them with longevity and nobility. Cranes have a spiritual significance, being seen as divine birds that travel between heaven and the human world.
Cranes regularly appear in Chinese arts such as paintings, tapestries, and decorative arts.
The crane is the second most important bird after the phoenix (凤凰 fenghuang), which symbolizes the empress, in China.
The God of Wealth, or Caishen 财神 in Chinese, is widely worshipped in Taoism, Feng Shui, and Chinese folk religions. Typically depicted holding a golden ingot in his hands, which represented the highest value in China's Imperial period.
For Caishen's blessings of fortune and success, Chinese people worship Caishen statues and hang pendants in their homes and cars. This product is ideal for home decoration, the Chinese New Year festival, and as a gift for friends and family.
Caishen's figure on the product is delicately printed on plush cloth and stuffed with fluffy materials like a doll toy, ornamented with dense tassels.
It's shaped like a Chinese gold ingot (Sycee/ Yuanbao), and the Chinese characters "平安" mean "Safe and Peace." We believe that decorating your home with it will bring wealth and good luck.
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In Chinese dining culture, Chinese people are used to dining at the round table and sharing the dishes. So you will find that compared with Japanese and Korean cuisine, Chinese cuisine usually has a larger serving. Therefore, the length of Chinese chopsticks is longer than Japanese and Korean chopsticks. Because the food is a bit far away from you, you have to reach out to pick up the food, especially when you dine on a big round table, long chopsticks will be much easier to reach the food.
Similar to Japanese, in Korea, each person has their own set of meals, however, on different occasions, they also place various side dishes on the table to share, and they love to share bbq, and stew pots too (such as army pots)! So the length of Korean chopsticks is between Chinese and Japanese chopsticks.
Usually, Chinese chopsticks are thicker than Japanese and Korean chopsticks.
And generally, the front end is round and the rear end is square, the design is coming from the ancient Chinese philosophy “round sky, square ground (天圓地方)”, the sky has represented movement and flows, and the ground has represented stillness. Like Tai Chi, yin, and yang, it’s all about balance.
If you check on the Japanese chopsticks, you will find that the rear end has a variety of styles such as square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, rounded square, etc.
Although Japanese chopsticks have many different designs, one thing in common is that the front ends of Japanese chopsticks are narrow and pointed.
Because Japanese food is in small portions and more delicate, such as sushi, and pickles! Also, the Japanese love to eat fish, and pointed chopsticks are easier to avoid the fish bones!
Korean chopsticks are usually flat because when Koreans finish cooking in the kitchen, they will use a tray to bring the food to the dining table. The flat shape prevents the chopsticks from rolling and slipping on the way. In addition, flat chopsticks are also very practical for cutting, and eating kimchi/pancakes. Some people think that Korean chopsticks are very difficult to use, indeed it’s not easy for a beginner, but it’s not that difficult as well! Practice makes perfect! Don't give up!
Here we found a video of “how to use chopsticks”, check it out!
Traditionally, Chinese and Japanese chopsticks are made of wood and bamboo, but nowadays melamine chopsticks are also very popular in Chinese and Japanese households. But Korean chopsticks are mostly made of metal, the reason is very simple, Korean cuisine has a lot of fermented side dishes (such as kimchi), and stainless steel chopsticks are much easier to clean and won't leave the smell:)
So, which country's chopsticks do you like the most?
Here is our chopsticks collection:
]]>The Legendary Story
The legend revolves around a minister and poet named Qu Yuan. In commemoration of his death, it is said that he was exiled by the King and eventually drowned himself in a river. When the locals heard about his fate, they rushed out in boats in an attempt to rescue him. However, their efforts were in vain, as they couldn't find Qu Yuan in the end. To prevent fish from devouring his body, they dropped sticky rice dumplings, known as zongzi, into the river. This tradition gave rise to the annual Dragon Boat Festival in China, where people race dragon boats and eat zongzi to remember and honor Qu Yuan.
The celebration
Here are products for Dragon Boat Festival:
]]>In Chinese tradition, consuming tea during the spring season is believed to enhance overall health and boost the immune system. Here are the reasons why:
Combatting Spring Fatigue (Tavaszi letargia):
As spring arrives and flowers bloom, many people experience feelings of lethargy and tiredness. Drinking tea can refresh your energy, combat spring fatigue, and leave you feeling more revitalized. Opt for green tea or floral teas for the best effects.
Liver Nourishment:
After the heavy winter diets, adjusting to lighter spring eating habits becomes crucial. With the body's metabolism becoming more active in spring, focusing on liver nourishment is important for maintaining health. Tea stands out as an excellent choice for cleansing, metabolizing, and nourishing the liver.
Vitalizing Inner Energy ("正氣Zheng Qi"):
Tea consumption benefits the stomach and promotes the movement of "qi" throughout the body. Especially recommended is the combination of hearty teas, deep breathing, and conditioning, which helps to smoothly activate the flow of "qi."
Dispelling Winter Cold and Weakness:
Even as winter ends, the body may retain residual coldness from the previous season. Drinking tea aids in dispelling this lingering chill and helps the body adjust to the warmer season.
Eliminating Dampness:
Spring mornings and nights bring dew and frost, resulting in a heavy feeling in the body. Tea intake replenishes fluids, supports metabolism, and alleviates coughing and throat congestion.
Boosting "Yang" Energy:
Spring symbolizes renewal and growth, signifying a fresh start. To align with this energy and promote the flow of "yang," tea consumption is recommended.
Maintaining Wellness Inside Out:
Tea is believed to aid digestion, metabolism, and anti-aging efforts. It also promotes alertness and stress relief. Embrace this ceremonial practice to nurture and rejuvenate both the mind and body.
Raise your cup and toast to the joys of spring with a comforting cup of tea. Welcome the season's arrival while embracing the numerous benefits it brings!
#Tea #spring #immunesystem #Chinesetradition #antiaging #stressrelief
Within the realm of Chinese tea ceremonies, the Gaiwan tea set holds a position of prominence, boasting timeless elegance. Consequently, it gained immense popularity among emperors and nobility of bygone eras.
Teahouses in China offer a unique Gaiwan tea experience, encompassing a distinctive cultural dimension. Communication with teahouse staff often transpires through the artful placement of the Gaiwan tea set. Different arrangements convey diverse meanings.
When indulging in the enchanting world of Gaiwan tea, the arrangement of its components—the lid, bowl, and saucer—communicates with a subtle eloquence. Each arrangement offers a unique message, guiding the interactions within the serene ambiance of a Chinese teahouse:
In the world of Gaiwan tea, the elegant language of placement fosters a unique connection between patrons and teahouse staff. Each gesture, unspoken yet profound, orchestrates an intricate symphony of interactions, revealing a world where tea transcends mere refreshment, becoming a poetic expression of connection and understanding.
The "white porcelain" produced in Dehua County enjoys the reputation of "Chinese White". It is also one of the important commodities of the "Maritime Silk Road" during the Song and Yuan Dynasties.
It is said that the white porcelain produced in Dehua County Features: "White as snow, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and sound like a Standing bell."
In China, families that make porcelain are just like families that make iron. They have made porcelain for generations.
There is no railway in this beautiful mountainous county, but it does not prevent her from becoming an important ceramic "world factory". Many ceramics in the world come from here.
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Chaozhou ceramics is one of the famous traditional porcelain crafts in Guangdong Province with a long history.
From the shell mound site of Chenqiao Village in the territory, it can be seen that the ancestors thrived and smelted here as early as 6000 years ago.
The excavation also shows that, at least in the early years of Emperor Gaozong's Yifeng-Tiaolu (676-679 AD), Chaozhou had large-scale ceramic production, and underglaze brown colored porcelain appeared.
As the porcelain capital of Guangdong in the Song Dynasty, Chaozhou has its central production area around Chaozhou City. Today, Chaozhou has been awarded the title of "China's Porcelain Capital", and there is considerable ceramic production in the city.
Chaozhou ceramics is a part of Chaozhou culture. It has a solid foundation since the Jin Dynasty, making Chaozhou an important part of the sea ceramic road in the Song Dynasty in Guangdong.
]]>Puer cha (puer cha in Chinese) is a sun-dried, custom-made tea, often picked from ancient tea trees, within the borders of Yunnan Province (southern China), which undergoes post-ripening and, as it ages, a tea specialty with a unique composition and aroma. live.
Many also refer to it as old tea, as its enjoyment value and complexity evolve over the years, and its monetary value continues to grow. In 2006, the Yunnan Quality and Technical Inspection Bureau geographically linked puerh tea to Yunnan and ruled that puerh could only be made from local ingredients. The essence of aging is that with fermentation over the years, puerh tea gradually darkens, its aroma and aroma change, it acquires a very natural earth and cellar odor.
In its acids and vegetables it will be more restrained, oily, smoother, at the same time bioactive substances useful for the human body will be enriched in tea and its health-preserving effect will increase. This is a controlled process of puerh maturation. Puerh teas, like wines, are distinguished and recorded by the vintage and origin of the teas, and the best are valued and accounted for. In the case of puerh teas, quality drink culture means discovering and enjoying the unique character of famous producers or regions and their vintages. Puerh tea has a message that spans generations, mountains, forests and villages, making tea from each vintage, area and farming family unique.
Porcelain production in Jingdezhen can be traced back to the Warring States Period. Since the Song Dynasty, Jingdezhen has become an important production base for porcelain, exclusively producing porcelain for the imperial family, all porcelain products are for the imperial court only. In the Qing Dynasty, the official kilns used by the royal imperial and the other kilns used by the people reached their peaks, this makes Jingdezhen, a porcelain city, so unique and indestructible.
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Yangjiang bean drum has a long history of production and production. It mainly selects black beans produced locally in Yangjiang, plus a unique traditional processing technology to make the color black and oily, the black bean meat loosened, the black bean flavor is strong, the flavor is unique, delicious and rich. Nutrition, it is a good seasoning for steamed fish, meat, ribs and stir-fried vegetables, and an ideal raw material for good seasoning and food processing.
Yangjiang lacquerware is a kind of ancient lacquerware, with a long history and well-known at home and abroad for more than 300 years. It is one of the traditional Chinese handicrafts in Guangdong, China, with the ethnic style and strong local characteristics of the Lingnan region.
Among them, the history of making kitchen knives is long, and it is already a national intangible cultural heritage. It can be traced back to 600 AD. At that time, it was mainly used to make weapons. And then slowly changed from making weapons to making people's livelihood knives and scissors. By the Qing Dynasty, almost every household was a knife maker, and it became a veritable kitchen knife producer in China. Almost every Chinese chef would have a chef knife produced in Yangjiang.
Anji county is well known for its 60,000 hectares of bamboo groves containing over 40 different species of bamboo.
In the first Oscar-winning Chinese film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" directed by Ang Lee, the location of the bamboo forest battle between Jen Yu and Li Mu Bai is filming in Anji County.
Anji County produces bamboo, not only the beautiful scenery, but also various bamboo living utensils, handicrafts and art.