In many places, coins are hidden inside dumplings made during the Spring Festival. What’s the point?
The traditional custom of wrapping coins in dumplings seems to be popular throughout the north. "One place has its own customs, and the rules may have to be changed within ten miles." Unexpectedly, wrapping coins in dumplings became popular in the northern land. When making dumplings, place coins inside one or several dumplings. Whoever eats a dumpling with coins indicates that he will have good fortune in the new year. It is said that this comes from the workers’ beautiful wishes for wealth in the new year during the farming civilization.
When it comes to making dumplings on New Year's Eve, adults and children can forget about other things, but no one will forget the custom of wrapping coins in dumplings.
According to Professor Zhang Ming of Renmin University of China: Dumplings themselves mean getting rich. At the junction of two years, on the occasion of Jiaozi, eating dumplings represents Jiaozi. At the same time, this food looks like a gold ingot, and eating it means getting rich in the coming year. And whoever eats the dumplings after putting money in the pot will get rich and have good luck in the coming year.
Chinese people pay attention to lottery numbers, from copper coins to coins, this little custom has always been popular among the people.
Nowadays, for the sake of hygiene, many families no longer put coins in dumplings. Instead, they put peanuts and candies, which are sweet and auspicious.
Of course, sometimes dumplings are also filled with red dates. Whoever eats them means a sweet new year. This is just a lucky custom to seek luck. Although it makes no sense, it can make the whole family happy.
As for how much money to pack, it basically depends on the number of people in the family, one less than the number of people. As for who gets to eat and how much, it depends on personal luck. Just like giving out red envelopes now, whether you can grab the red envelope or how many you grab depends entirely on your luck. In fact, everyone knows that this makes no sense, but those who get money are always very happy and show off everywhere.
So, although the times have progressed and people are not as short of money as they used to be, this custom has been passed down. It is just a matter of replacing a few cents of coins with one and five yuan coins. The money was even exchanged for hundred-dollar bills, just to arouse more people's interest in participating.