Nian Gao, also called rice cake or year cake, is a kind of Chinese food made from glutinous rice. Traditionally, Nian Gao is the main cuisine during the Chinese New Year, but now it is eaten all the year round.
The traditional Nian Gao is round with a auspicious decoration such as the character for prosperity on its top. It can be made by various methods, however, the main ingredient is the glutinous rice. It is also divided into a few types, such as Shanghai Nian Gao, Cantonese Nian Gao, etc.
It is believed that one will have good luck in the next year if he eats Nian Gao during the Chinese New Year. It also implies promotion or prosperity year by year as Nian Gao is a homonym for “higher year by year” in Chinese.
In ancient times, a small piece of Nian Gao would be pasted on the image of the Kitchen god before the Chinese New Year. Ancient Chinese believed that by doing so, the Kitchen god would give a favorable report on the household as when he speaks the ill of the household, the cake would stick his mouth.
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