Finally, the year-end is here! After a year of hard work, everyone is looking forward to winning a cash prize at the year-end banquet. But did you know that the "year-end banquet" actually has a fixed date and its origin is related to the Earth God? In early folk customs, people would eat gua bao (steamed buns) and runbing (spring rolls) on this day. Besides these, what other interesting traditional cultural practices are there? What's the difference between the year-end banquet and the spring banquet? We'll also tell you all about year-end good fortune!

Fun Facts about the Year-End Banquet: The Origin of the Year-End Banquet
The traditional year-end banquet is held on the 16th day of the twelfth lunar month, which is February 3rd this year. The name "year-end banquet" is actually related to ancient sacrificial customs. In the past, merchants would regularly worship the Earth God on the 2nd and 16th of each lunar month, praying for divine protection. This ritual was called "making teeth." The 16th day of the twelfth lunar month was the last time for making teeth that year, hence the name "year-end banquet."

What are "teeth"? There are two main theories about the origin of this term. One is that in ancient times, armies would worship flags inlaid with animal teeth before going to war, a ceremony symbolizing victory. This practice was later imitated by merchants, thus evolving into the "tooth sacrifice" (牙祭), a ritual held before the market opened. The other theory is somewhat amusing and confusing. Legend has it that ancient merchants would hold a "mutual market" (互市) every month and worship the local earth god. After the ceremony, the offerings would be distributed to employees and customers. However, later generations mistakenly wrote "tooth" (牙) instead of "mutual market" (互市), leading to this error.

Compared to the solemn rituals of the past, the modern year-end banquet is more like a joyous party for bosses and employees. However, some older generations may remember the traditional custom that if the head of the poached chicken at the banquet was pointed at them, it meant they would be laid off after the New Year, making this year-end reward a kind of treacherous feast, leaving everyone eating with trepidation.

Two Must-Eat Dishes at the Year-End Banquet: Two Delicacies for Good Fortune
Traditional year-end banquets feature two auspicious foods that are not only delicious but also believed to bring great wealth!

**Gua Bao (Steamed Buns)** Gua Bao, also known as "Tiger Bites Pig" in Taiwanese, sounds similar to "good fortune bites you," symbolizing swallowing all the bad luck of the past year so that good fortune will come your way in the new year! Stuffed with filling, Gua Bao resembles a large, round wallet, thus carrying the auspicious meaning of abundant wealth after eating it.

Furthermore, in business, it's inevitable to tell some white lies. In ancient times, merchants ate Gua Bao at the end of the year, representing "swallowing all the lies told in the past year," allowing for a fresh start in the new year.

**Runbing (Spring Rolls)** A thin pancake filled with rich filling and carefully rolled up, resembling a string of coins or silver notes wrapped in paper in ancient times, has long been associated with the auspicious meaning of "attracting wealth and treasures." If you see spring rolls at the year-end banquet, don't forget to try one; you might be the next one to win a big prize!

Year-End Party vs. Spring Banquet: A Deeply Different Core Spirit
Many people confuse the differences between a year-end party and a spring banquet. From a modern perspective, both are company-sponsored banquets to reward employees. However, they hold completely different meanings in terms of timing and core spirit:

Year-End Party
Date: 16th day of the 12th lunar month
Main Significance: Reviewing the past year and thanking employees for their hard work.

Spring Banquet
Date: After the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month (the first "tooth-making" ceremony, also known as "head tooth")
Main Significance: Looking forward to the new year and embracing new challenges.

Our Spring Festival holiday is about to begin, and there's only one week left!
If you need to purchase any goods, please contact me promptly. Today, I recommend the following products.