There is an apparent difference in the custom of food taking on Yuandan between
the Chinese in the northern and southern regions. The northern Chinese has the
habit of taking jiao zi(dumpling made of flour with vegetable and meat wrapped
inside). Some people may put a sweet or a coin inside jiao zi, hoping to have a
sweet year after tasting the sweet and a wealthy year after tasting the
coin.
on the other hand, the southern Chinese have the taboo for killing on
Yuandan. Therefore, they do not take meat in tee morning of Yuandan, so as to
avoid bloodshed or mutual slaughter.
In order to evade misfortune, they have the first meal of this day without
meat. Instead, they take vegetarian food for the sake of virtue.
