The Origins of the Chinese New Year Sticky Rice Cake.

Chinese New Year is about the festivities, family time, and, of course, the food! One of the highlights is the annual sticky rice cake, known as nian gao (also known as tikoy in the Philippines). Read about the nian gao history and its famous origin stories.

Nian Gao History & Origin Stories

Nian gao translates to “sticky rice” and also has a double meaning of “year high” – as in, a promising new year for more opportunities, higher income, higher positions, more children, etc. Typically, this sticky rice cake made of glutinous rice flour and coconut milk is enjoyed on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but it can really be eaten any day of the celebrations.

 
Origin Story 1:
There are 3 famous origin stories attached to the new year sticky rice cake. The first dates back to 482 BC on the battlefield in Ancient China. The leader of the Wu Kingdom, Wu Yun, also known as Zixu, created a barrier wall made of glutinous rice bricks in anticipation of times of trouble for his citizens. He told his people that should the time come, dig the wall and they will have sustenance. That time came after Zixu’s death when a soldier remembered the tale and discovered the rice bricks in order to save the citizens from starvation. From then, it became an annual New Year activity to make and eat rice cakes in celebration of Wu.

 
Origin Story 2:
The second origin story goes beyond the earthly world to the ancient gods. In this legend, the Kitchen God ate sticky rice cake which sealed his mouth shut and he could not bad mouth the families to the Jade Emperor. As result, people offer nian gao to the Kitchen God every year and pray for their good fortune.

 
Origin Story 3:
The third famous origin story tells the tale of a monster named Nian who hunted for humans in the winter. To combat the monster, a tribe named Gao prepared rice cake for Nian to eat instead of people. On top of that, firecrackers helped to scare off the monster further.

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