On the Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the First Lunar Month, sweet rice tangyuan warmed all hearts.
On this traditional festival symbolizing reunion and happiness, 13 children gathered at the Fifth Community Activity Center in Fengpu Street. Under the guidance of teachers from the Shanghai Youdao Charity Service Center, they immersed themselves in the fun of making tangyuan, spending time filled with the warmth of folk customs.
Before the event even started, everything was ready. Neatly arranged white glutinous rice flour and sweet fillings were laid out. The worktable was orderly, and the children, wearing aprons, watched intently with curious eyes, eager to try their hand at it.
“First, take some of the glutinous rice flour dough, roll it into a ball, then make a small indentation with your thumb, put in the filling, and slowly seal it and roll it into a ball.” As the teachers demonstrated and explained, the “secret” to making tangyuan was instantly unlocked. The teachers patiently guided the children, correcting their movements step by step, imparting their knowledge in every detail, from the pressure applied to pinching the filling to the technique of rolling the glutinous rice balls.
The seemingly simple steps proved surprisingly challenging for the children. Some pressed the rice balls flat, some added too much filling and burst their “bellies,” and others had their hands covered with the rice flour, becoming adorable “little white hands.” But the children were not discouraged. With the teachers’ help, they kept trying and adjusting. With plenty of laughter and chatter, freshly made rice balls of various shapes and sizes eventually emerged. Some were round and plump, others small and delicate; though their appearances differed, they were all filled by the children’s innocence and creativity.
As the steaming hot rice balls came out of the pot, their rich, sweet aroma filled every corner of the activity center. The children filled their small bowls, eagerly savoring the fruits of their labor. One bite, and the soft, chewy outer layer paired with the sweet filling brought a burst of happiness to their taste buds.
A bowl of rice balls, a touch of warmth. The Shanghai Youdao Public Welfare Service Center will continue to leverage various activity platforms to carry out more down-to-earth and heartwarming traditional cultural activities, allowing children in the community to experience the charm of traditional Chinese culture through immersive happiness.
