Just days away from the Lunar New Year, many in Taiwan are getting ready for a traditional celebration, as they remove the bad and the old, and welcome the new and the good. But there’s one town in Taiwan that has created a new way of welcoming the New Year.
While there are many Lunar New Year traditions, the people in Luye Township (鹿野) in Taitung have their own tradition: pounding the rice cake, or the “New Year cake.”
On Tuesday, Yong-an villagers gathered around the village center with 150 kilograms of rice, ready to make some rice cake. This has become a tourist attraction since the villagers began this tradition 22 years ago. According to Yong-an village development association secretary-general Liao Chung-hsun (廖中勳), it is a special gathering that goes on for three days up until New Year’s Eve.
Liao says everyone in the village loves participating in the rice cake making activities, especially the pounding part. While the adults oversee the cooking pots, exchanging tips for the perfect cake, the children gather around the glutinous rice, eyes wide with anticipation and mouths watering in excitement for the sweet treat.
In 2002, Yong-an village faced a dilemma. With its youth migrating away, the elders were left feeling isolated and alone. But amidst the challenge, the community came together to revive the spirit of Lunar New Year. They decided to start making rice cakes as a group activity before New Year’s Eve. And little did they know, this simple tradition would soon become the heart and soul of their celebrations.
Fast forward to today, and the tradition of making rice cakes has become an integral part of the festivities. It's a time when young and old come together, not just to make rice cakes, but to bond, laugh, and celebrate the spirit of community.
In Yong-an village, Lunar New Year isn't just a holiday—it's a celebration of togetherness, resilience, and tradition.