Speaker: “So in Shanghai, during the Lunar New Year, there is this custom where the whole family takes turns visiting different relatives. Usually, the family decides whether to follow the father’s side or the mother’s side for that year. For example, on my mom’s side, my grandmother has several siblings, maybe four who are still around, and everyone stays in touch. Before the New Year, they will coordinate and decide the schedule.
On the first day of the New Year, everyone usually goes to the oldest elder’s home. In my case, that would be my grandmother, since she is the eldest in her generation. Then on the second day, people go to the next person in order of seniority, like maybe my great-uncle. And after that, it just continues, going from one household to another. So it is kind of like each day there is a big family gathering hosted by a different relative. And whoever is hosting that day has to prepare everything themselves. You are not supposed to just go out to eat at a restaurant. You have to cook at home and make a full table of dishes, a really big spread with all kinds of food.
It is not just about eating, either. If dinner is in the evening, people usually start arriving around noon. Everyone just hangs out together, chatting, sometimes playing mahjong, and doing different activities. It usually goes on like this for several days during the New Year. Interviewer: “Are there any specific foods that are important or traditional?” Speaker: “Yeah, definitely. One thing I remember clearly is that there always has to be a fish, because it represents ‘surplus every year.’ That meaning is really important. For soups, a more traditional Shanghai-style one would have napa cabbage, egg dumplings, glass noodles, and tofu skin rolls, sometimes with a bit of cured meat. It is kind of like a big mixed pot with a lot of ingredients.
For cold dishes, you might have things like marinated jellyfish or white-cut chicken. And for hot dishes, there is usually a wide variety of meats. You will see pork, beef, and all kinds of dishes, basically everything you can think of. There are always a lot of different plates on the table. So overall, it is really about having a full, abundant meal and spending time together as a family.” Interviewer: “So it lasts for several days?” Speaker: “Yeah, it usually goes on for a few days like that, visiting different relatives and gathering together.”
Context: This conversation took place during an informal interview about Lunar New Year customs in different regions of China. The speaker described a common practice in Shanghai in which extended family members organize a rotating schedule of visits, with each household hosting a large meal. He emphasized both the importance of hierarchy, such as visiting the eldest relative first, and the expectation that each host prepares an elaborate home-cooked feast.
Analysis: This account highlights how Lunar New Year functions as both a ritual and a social structure for maintaining extended family relationships. The rotating hosting system reinforces generational hierarchy while ensuring that responsibility is shared among relatives. Food plays a central symbolic role, especially dishes like fish that carry meanings of prosperity and abundance. At the same time, the gatherings are not limited to eating, but also include social interaction, games, and conversation, emphasizing the importance of togetherness. The multi-day nature of the visits reflects the broader cultural value placed on family continuity and collective celebration during the New Year period.