Traditional Chinese holiday meals(中国传统节庆膳食Zhōngguó chuántǒng jiéqìng shànshí) are indispensable on some festivals.

For instance,the Dragon Boat Festival (端午节duānwǔjié)is a day established in memory of the ancient poet Qu Yuan (屈原Qūyuán)and people usually hold dragon boat races (赛龙舟sài lóngzhōu)and eat zongzi(粽子zòngzi),or rice dumpling(粽子zòngzi) on that day.

The Mid-autumn Festival (中秋节zhōngqiūjié)is an occasion for viewing the full moon(满月mǎn yuè).The round moon(满月mǎn yuè) is a symbol for completeness and family reunion(一家团聚yì jiā tuánjǜ).The special fod of the day is yuebing(月饼yuèbǐng),a round cake known as the mooncake(月饼yuèbǐng).

The Spring Festival (春节chūnjié)is the Chinese lunar New Year’s holiday.Besides the popular poultry and meat,people cook traditional food according to regional customs,for example,jiaozi(饺子jiǎozi),or boiled dumplings(饺子jiǎozi),and niangao(年糕nián’gāo),or the “new year cake” (年糕nián’gāo).