What does it mean to eat apples at Christmas?

The origin of eating apples at Christmas. What is the significance of eating apples at Christmas?

Because "Ping" and "Ping" are homophonic, China people have the auspicious meaning of "peace" of apples, and because the shape of apples is round, they have the meaning of reunion and happiness. So eating apples at Christmas has become a unique custom in China.

In Christianity, it is generally believed that the forbidden fruit in Genesis is apple, so the image of apple is related to sex and desire. In fact, this is a misunderstanding of future generations. Just because God refers to the fruit in the Garden of Eden doesn't mean it is an apple. It is against God's will that people steal the fruit that God says they can't eat. Man was actually wise when he was created, but wisdom began to distort after eating the forbidden fruit in violation of God's will. Since stealing forbidden fruit will make people lose their wisdom and become dull, there is no such thing as eating apples at Christmas in the west. If there is, isn't that against God's will?

Since there is no such thing as eating apples abroad, we can only find the answer at home! There are three different versions about the origin of eating apples at Christmas in different regions.

1. International students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. It was probably Guangzhou or Xiamen in the early 1980s. At the beginning of the reform and opening up, there were not many overseas students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and there were not many social materials in China. Some of them have the habit of Christmas, but they don't have a turkey or a Christmas dinner. They can't buy anything with money. In February 65438, only apples were sold in the market, so they ate apples to celebrate, which meant that they would be safe in the new year. Personally, I think this statement is closer to the truth.

The second is spread from domestic college students. The time is about the mid-1980s, and the place is Guangzhou or Wuhan. These people were blessed by heaven at that time. They had such learning opportunities, met some foreign students and foreign teachers, and learned some foreign cultural traditions. So they also celebrate Christmas, but they understand Christmas as a new year for foreigners. They added traditional elements of China to this festival. Eating apples on Christmas Eve means peace. There are also many versions. Some people say they want 24 apples from 24 people with different surnames. Some people say that they will go to 24 different places to buy 24 apples. There are six apples, three of which are red and three are green. etc

It spread from apple suppliers. I don't know the time. It is said that it was in the mid-1990s, and the locations were basically all over China. The reason is that a large number of foreign fruits have flowed into the China market, and the prices are cheap. The apples produced locally are sold out, so apple sellers use Christmas Eve to sell apples. Therefore, the China tradition of eating apples on Christmas Eve was formally born.

The custom of sending fruit on Christmas Eve is unique in China. Because people in China pay more attention to homophones, such as putting peanuts, red dates and lotus seeds under the quilt on their wedding night, which means "early (jujube) gives birth to a precious child". Christmas Eve is Christmas Eve, Christmas Day is 65438+February 25th, and Christmas Eve is the night of 65438+February 24th. The word "Ping" of apple is homophonic with the word "Ping" of peace, which means that China people have the auspicious meaning of "Ping" to apples, and the circle means reunion and happiness, so there is a custom of giving apples on Christmas Eve.

What are the traditional Christmas foods?

roast turkey

Roasted turkey is an indispensable dish on the traditional Christmas table. In some Asian countries, it may be eaten only at Christmas every year to celebrate this festival; But in Europe and America, especially in the American continent, turkey is a very common meat and a traditional food for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It is said that on Christmas Day in 1620, a large number of immigrants from Britain arrived at Mount Primus in the United States. Because there is almost no food here, except turkeys everywhere, they have to roast turkeys for the festival. Turkey is big and fleshy, delicious, nutritious and low in cholesterol, so it is favored by westerners. Since then, eating turkey at Christmas has become a tradition.

Christmas salmon

Just as people in China have dinner during the Spring Festival, Europeans and Americans attach great importance to family reunion during Christmas. Turkey is a must-have food, and smoked ham, Christmas salmon, Christmas pudding and other delicious foods will also be put on the table. Salmon is a popular food and a very healthy food. Fish is rich in protein and OMEGA-3 fatty acids, but low in fat. This kind of fish is orange, which is a kind of red-fleshed fish, but there are also a few wild species with white meat.

There are many ways to eat salmon. Europeans and Americans make smoked salmon by hot or cold smoking. Smoked fish fillets are usually served with butter and fresh lemon juice.

Smoked Ham

Smoked ham should be regarded as the most traditional main course in Christmas dinner. Not only is it convenient to eat, but it can also meet the needs of many people for holiday meals, even if it is left. Smoked ham is usually coated with a sweet sauce, such as honey or cherry pomegranate sauce.

Using these sweet sauces, smoked ham can be perfectly combined with red wine. Generally, red wine with slightly fruity flavor and rich taste is selected, which is matched with the sweet and greasy taste of the outer layer of smoked ham.

Christmas cake

Cake is an indispensable food in peacetime and festivals, and Christmas is not to be missed. Chocolate flavor is one of the main flavors of Christmas cake. At this moment, almost every family will make chocolate cakes. People often make Christmas cakes novel and beautiful. Pour the words "Merry Christmas" with cream or jam on it and insert special Christmas candles around it.

The shape of the candle is very small, only three or four inches long, but the materials are exquisite and colorful, and some of them are made into spirals. After lighting it, the host will put it out twice, and then everyone will share the cake. People sometimes put three beans in the cake to represent the three sages in the Bible story. Whoever eats beans becomes the "three kings", which makes people feel very interesting.

gingersnap

The most famous traditional Christmas food in Germany is gingerbread. There are two English versions of gingerbread: Gingersnap, which literally means ginger+thin and crisp cake; The other one comes from German and is called Lebkuchen. In short, gingerbread is a shortcake for Christmas, which is usually made of honey, brown sugar, almonds, candied skin and spices.

Although the hometown of gingerbread is in Germany, Europeans are also used to eating gingerbread at Christmas. Finns will enjoy gingerbread and drink glogi, a wine mixed with almonds and raisins. It tastes spicy and fragrant.

Christmas pudding

Christmas pudding is a holiday food for Christmas. Today's Christmas pudding comes from traditional Christmas food, milk, porridge and dried fruit pudding. Therefore, although there are no plums in Christmas pudding, it is also called dried fruit pudding and has become a new member of Christmas dishes. Traditionally, when Christmas comes, every family member will make a Christmas pudding to symbolize unity and harmony. Everyone will make a silent wish while stirring the dough, and finally a coin will be hidden in the dough.

In Denmark, when Christmas dinner begins, people must eat an almond pudding before they can start eating other things. If anyone can eat the only intact almond, he will be the luckiest person in the coming year. Usually, adults will put this almond in the youngest child's bowl to make them happy.