Life in China 2017: January 1 – Americans love peanuts, but they are just a good snack. In China, they are considered a “lucky” snack to eat, especially if you are getting married, and/or wanting to have children! The Chinese word for “peanut” is “huasheng,” and the second character of the word, “sheng,” means “to give birth”, or “life” or “lifetime.” The first character “hua” means “flower” or “blossom.” Peanuts are sometimes called “longevity nuts,” and they symbolize longevity, vitality, growth, and good fortune, as well as the wish for many children. They are a very popular snack for Chinese New Year, and are usually sold in the shells, as most nuts in China are. Here are peanuts for sale at the supermarket and a cute little statue of a baby taking a bath in a peanut shell :-)
