PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - Kue Keranjang is a typical food that is never absent in Chinese New Year celebrations. This cake is better known as Dodol Cina.

In Mandarin, basket cake is Nian Gao or Niangao which means year cake. This basket cake made from glutinous rice flour and sugar has the meaning of bringing good luck.

Reported from various sources, basket cake is usually served as a dessert at Chinese New Year events.

Nian gao is pronounced the same as gao which means tall. The pronunciation of niangao sounds like 'tall year'.

In Chinese belief, nian gao symbolizes higher income and position, children grow well, and it is believed that the whole year gets better.

For that reason, eating nian gao or basket cake during Chinese New Year is considered to bring good luck. As the meaning of the pronunciation, basket cake is believed to make life higher or lead to goodness.

History of Basket Cake

According to Chinese folklore, after spending a whole year in people's homes, the Kitchen God would make a report to the Jade Emperor at the end of each year. People were worried that the Kitchen God would report bad things to the Jade Emperor.

So to shut the mouth of the Kitchen God, people give basket cakes so that the Kitchen God does not badmouth people's homes. So basket cakes are always offered before the Chinese New Year.

Basket cake is used as an offering in ancestral worship during the seven days before the Chinese New Year. And, the basket cake tradition is carried out to this day.

Meaning of Basket Cake

The round, endless basket cake symbolizes boundless. So it means that families who celebrate Chinese New Year are always harmonious and together throughout the year.

Sharing basket cakes during Chinese New Year symbolizes good fortune and prosperity. Basket cakes are expected to bring blessings and prosperity to both the giver and the recipient. Also as a symbol of helping each other.

While its soft and chewy texture depicts tenacity, persistence, and high fighting spirit. This texture means that brotherhood is getting closer and united in the coming year.

Long-lasting basket cake means a lasting and quality relationship. Its sweet taste means joy or happiness in life. And, its tiered and tapered arrangement means increasing fortune and prosperity.

Finally, the long-term manufacturing process means patience, persistence, tenacity, fighting spirit, determination in achieving something desired. So as to get maximum and best results. (Diskominfo Kota Bandung/Revo)