Special Purchases for Spring Festival

Special Purchases for Spring FestivalIn the weeks before Chinese New Year, the market is jam-packed with people shopping for the "new year goods" that will carry them through the New Year holiday. In the past, the special purchases (nian huo, literally meaning New Year Goods) for the Spring Festival mainly referred to food.
New Year Cake At the Spring Festival, most Chinese will eat the New Year Cake which is made of glutinous rice or millet flour and garnished with anything from bean to jujube paste, assorted fruits and preserves. By tradition, it is believed eating Niangao will bring good luck.
Tray of Togetherness

When visiting relatives, it's customary for them to offer guests tea, along with a round or octagonal tray filled with a variety of treats, from nuts to sweets. This is known the Tray of Togetherness.