| Chinese dumpling is one of the most important foods | | | | timing system, the time named Zi is twelve o'clock in |
| in Chinese New Year. Since the shape of Chinese | | | | the midnight. When this moment comes on the eve |
| dumplings is similar to ancient Chinese gold or silver | | | | of the last day of a year the New Year is coming in |
| ingots, they symbolize wealth. Traditionally, the | | | | time. And in Chinese, the whole process is called |
| members of a family get together to make | | | | Geng Sui Jiao Zi that means the change of years and |
| dumplings during the New Year's Eve. They may hide | | | | Jiao Zi means that the change happens at the very |
| a coin in one of the dumplings. The person who find | | | | moment of Zi. |
| the coin will likely have a good fortune in the New | | | | The shape of Jiaozi is like that of Yuanbao, a Chinese |
| Year. Chinese dumpling is also popular in other Chinese | | | | ancient silver currency, Chinese think that the shape |
| holidays or festivals, so it is part of the Chinese | | | | is quite auspicious. Northern Chinese eat Jiaozi more |
| culture or tradition. | | | | while Southern Chinese eat less and don't call it |
| A story says Jiaozi was invented by doctor Zhang | | | | Huntun in stead of Jiaozi. And there were other |
| Zhongjing, a famous Chinese doctor in ancient China, | | | | names for Jiaozi in Chinese history, Jiao'er, Bianshi, |
| to save poor people from frostbite as fillingwith meat | | | | boiled Momo, and etc. |
| and traditional Chinese medicine. | | | | There are sayings about Jiaozi, such as chu men jiaozi |
| The pronunciation of Jiaozi came from the tradition | | | | jin men mian, which means one needs to eat Jiaozi |
| of eating dumplings on Chinese New Year's Eve, | | | | when leaving home for a long time and eat noodle |
| which became a tradition later after Zhang Zhongjing, | | | | when coming back home. |
| the famous doctor, invented it. In Chinese ancient | | | | |