Author Profile

Name: Wang Xiaofeng
Position: Financial Assistant, Kinghelm Electronics
Hometown: Maoming, Guangdong
Aspiration: Hold hope in the heart and stars in the eyes; pursue the light, meet the light, and walk forward in its glow.

Wang Xiaofeng, Financial Assistant at Kinghelm Electronics

In Maoming, Guangdong, the Spring Festival is never just a single day of celebration. Instead, it is a festive season that stretches from the end of one year into the beginning of the next, filled with rituals and traditions. Every custom and every detail carries the Maoming people’s love for life, blessings for their families, and sincere hopes for the coming year.

From the brightly lit homes and fragrant festive snacks of New Year’s Eve, to the firecrackers and symbolic “Longevity Peach Cakes” on the first day of the New Year, and the house cleaning ritual on the third day, the spirit of the New Year in my hometown lives in everyday warmth. It is wrapped in the aroma of bamboo leaves, kneaded into rice cakes, and folded within fresh lettuce leaves—woven into our bloodline, warm and enduring.

The Taste of Maoming’s New Year Begins in the Kitchen

By mid-December of the lunar calendar, the festive atmosphere in Maoming quietly begins in the busy kitchens of every household. Families start preparing traditional holiday snacks, and making zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) is one of the most important tasks.

Maoming-style zongzi are generous in ingredients and rich in flavor. Glutinous rice is soaked until soft and sticky, then layered with pork belly, peeled mung beans, and fragrant peanuts. Everything is carefully wrapped in large bamboo leaves and tied tightly with string. The dumplings are then boiled for hours in large pots of water, allowing the aroma of bamboo leaves to blend with the fragrance of rice and meat. Soon, the entire neighborhood is filled with an irresistible scent.

Once cooked, the strings are untied and the bamboo leaves unfold to reveal glossy rice and savory filling. One bite brings a perfect balance of softness and flavor—salty, fragrant, and deeply satisfying. For people in Maoming, this taste is the foundation of the New Year’s memory. More than just a festive food, it symbolizes family unity and rising prosperity.

Another essential New Year delicacy is Shoutao Ke (Longevity Peach Cakes), which represent blessings and good fortune. Family members gather together to knead dough, shape wrappers, and fill them with peanuts, mung beans, and pork. Using a special wooden mold, the dough is pressed into peach shapes with delicate patterns.

After steaming, a small touch of red food coloring is added. The cakes become soft, white, and fragrant with a slightly sweet taste. Elders often say that eating Shoutao Ke brings health, longevity, and abundant blessings in the coming year. Children eagerly gather around the stove, waiting for the freshly steamed cakes, taking a bite while they are still warm—the sweetness melting on their tongues and creating some of the purest memories of childhood.

Another fun tradition is “Lettuce Wraps.” In Chinese, lettuce sounds similar to “growing wealth,” and the act of wrapping symbolizes “wrapping fortune.” Fresh lettuce leaves are washed and lightly blanched, then filled with stir-fried peanuts, shredded radish, pork, and other ingredients wrapped in dough. After steaming for about twenty minutes, the result is a delicious snack where the crisp freshness of lettuce balances the rich filling. Amid laughter and conversation, everyone shares the hope for prosperity and good fortune in the coming year.

Reunion Dinner: A Year of Abundance

New Year’s Eve is the most important and heartwarming night of the year in Maoming. Family members who have been working far away will return home, no matter how distant, to gather around the dinner table for the reunion feast.

There is an unwritten tradition passed down through generations: the dishes must be plentiful, and some food must be intentionally left over overnight. This is not waste, but a symbol of “abundance year after year.” Elders often say that leaving leftovers on New Year’s Eve means full granaries, sufficient wealth, and a life of comfort and prosperity in the coming year.

Another long-standing tradition is that the lights in the house must remain on throughout the night—from New Year’s Eve until late on the second day of the New Year. Living rooms, hallways, and bedrooms are brightly illuminated. The warm light drives away the cold darkness and symbolizes a bright future, good fortune, and protection from misfortune.

On New Year’s Eve, families also prepare offerings such as chicken, fish, and pork belly to bring to temples, expressing gratitude for the blessings received throughout the year and praying for health, safety, and happiness for the family. This simple devotion reflects the Maoming people’s respect for life and their hopes for the future.

Kinghelm and SLKOR Corporate Totem Artwork

On the morning of the first day of the New Year, the festival officially begins with the sound of firecrackers. According to tradition, the first thing people do when opening their doors is to light firecrackers. The loud crackling sounds fill the air with smoke, symbolically driving away the troubles of the past year and welcoming the good fortune of the new one.

After the firecrackers, families perform ancestor worship. Offerings are arranged, incense is lit, and family members bow in sequence to honor their ancestors and pray for prosperity and harmony for the family. It is both a remembrance of roots and a continuation of cultural heritage.

After the ceremony, visiting relatives begins. In my family, we usually visit my grandparents on the first day of the New Year. Wearing new clothes and carrying carefully prepared gifts—especially homemade zongzi and Shoutao Ke—we bring our greetings and blessings.

A simple “Happy New Year” or “Good health to you” carries the deepest affection. Elders happily hand out red envelopes, and the festive spirit grows stronger through the warmth of family connections and the aroma of traditional foods.

Ivory Carving Artwork: Auspiciousness and Blessings — From Kinghelm & SLKOR Headquarters

The second day of the New Year is the day when relatives and friends visit our home. The usually quiet house becomes lively and full of laughter. In the kitchen, the sounds of cooking fill the air as family members prepare a feast of hometown dishes.

When the food is served, everyone gathers around the table, raising their glasses in celebration. Stories of the past year are shared—successes, funny moments, and hopes for the future. Laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses blend together in a joyful scene. This is the most genuine form of reunion and the most touching view of the New Year.

In Maoming, the first two days of the New Year come with an important rule: no cleaning is allowed. Elders say these are days when good fortune gathers, and sweeping the floor might sweep away wealth and blessings. Even if there are small bits of debris on the ground, they will be left until the third day.

On the third day of the New Year comes the tradition known as “sweeping away bad luck.” Early in the morning, families thoroughly clean the house—from corners and doorways to courtyards—removing the dust and clutter accumulated over the past days. Everything is swept out of the home together.

After the cleaning, family members relax, preparing simple snacks or reheating leftover Shoutao Ke, enjoying them with a cup of hot tea. In the freshly cleaned home, they savor a moment of peace. This is more than just housework—it is a symbolic farewell to the hardships and misfortunes of the old year and a welcome to prosperity and good fortune in the new one.

Kinghelm & SLKOR Have Good Tea Ready—We Look Forward to Your Visit!

From the leftovers symbolizing abundance on New Year’s Eve, to the lights that stay on all night; from firecrackers and ancestor worship on the first day, to visiting relatives and hosting guests; from making zongzi, Shoutao Ke, and lettuce wraps in the weeks before the festival to the grand reunion dinner—Maoming’s New Year traditions are simple yet meaningful, humble yet deeply heartfelt.

There may be no extravagant ceremonies, but the warmth of everyday life fills every moment. These traditions and foods passed down through generations represent the hometown memories embedded in every Maoming native. They embody the happiness of families sitting together under warm lights and the enduring hope for favorable weather, prosperity, and well-being in the coming year.

Year after year, the smoke of celebration continues and the flavor of the New Year never fades. This unique sense of ritual belonging to Maoming warms the hearts of those far from home and ensures that every Spring Festival remains rich with flavor, emotion, and meaning.