The Legend of ”Banh Chung” Tet food of Vietnamese people

“Banh Chung” (Chung cake) is a traditional and irreplaceable cake of Vietnamese people in the Tet Holidays and King Hung’s anniversary (10th March Lunar).

“Banh Chung” (Chung cake) is a traditional and irreplaceable cake of Vietnamese people in the Tet Holidays and King Hung’s anniversary (10th March Lunar). For the Vietnamese, making “Banh Chung” is the ideal way to express gratitude to their ancestors and homeland.

The Legend of ” Banh Chung”

Chung cake was invented by the 18th Prince of Hung Emperor in the contest of looking for new Emperor. According to the legend, 3,000-4,000 years ago, Prince Lang Lieu, made round and square cakes, the round Day cake symbolizing the sky and the square Chung cake symbolizing the Earth (under the ancient Vietnamese perception), to be offered on the occasion of Spring.

According to the ancient concept, the Earth is square, so the shape of Chung cake is also square, reflecting the shape of the Earth. Because the cakes he offered had special meaning and delicious taste, Lang Lieu was chosen as the next Emperor. Since then, in memory of this 18th Prince, Vietnamese people always make and have Chung cake on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. Up to now, Chung cake has become the most famous and irreplaceable traditional dish of Vietnamese people on Tet holiday. This legend aims to remind future generations of the ancient and elementary traditions of Chung cake. Besides, it emphasizes the important role of rice in wet rice culture.

How to Make “Banh Chung”?

In contrast to the fast food in modern life, the process of making Chung cake is time-consuming and requires the contribution of several people. Main ingredients are glutinous rice, pork meat, and green beans wrapped in a square of bamboo leaves that will give the rice a green color after boiling. The sticky rice must be very good and was soaked in water in the previous day. Rice cake is wrapped in square shape, and the wrapping power must be neither tight nor loose. Then the cake will be boiled in about 12 hours by wood. The Green Chung cake has nutrition with an original tasty flavor and may be kept for a long time. Eating Chung cake with vegetable pickles will bring you unforgettable taste!

In the traditional concept of Vietnamese people, the custom of making Chung cake is an occasion for family reunion. Sitting around a warm fire, all family members tell each other stories of the past and are ready to welcome a New Year with the best wishes. Nowadays, in some big cities, the business lifestyle of modern society makes it impossible for people to prepare banh chung, however, the habit of worshiping ancestors with Chung cake has never changed. It is proof of the loyalty and deep gratitude of Vietnamese people to their ancestors.

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