Banquet of Longevity for Meritorious Figures

Banquet of Longevity for Meritorious Figures

　　The "Banquet of Longevity for Meritorious Figures," originally called the "Auspicious Birthday Feast," is a traditional birthday banquet with elaborate customs, prepared by wealthy families in the Shangdang region for their elders' birthdays. It has been popular in southeastern Shanxi since the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, especially in recent years, the format of the birthday banquet has been reformed, winning widespread favor among both elders and younger generations. To provide proper hospitality for veteran cadres who relocated southward and returned to their hometowns for sightseeing, the reception office of the Changzhi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government—within the limits set by higher authorities and incorporating elements of the "Auspicious Birthday Feast"—designed a new-style birthday banquet that is simple yet dignified.

　　 The setting of the "Banquet of Longevity" is very elaborate, featuring a central hanging of either a "Longevity Star" painting or a calligraphy character for "longevity" written by a notable figure. On both sides of the central hanging are couplets,

　　 such as:

　　 May your happiness be as boundless as the Eastern Sea’s flowing waters

　　 May your longevity be as enduring as the Southern Mountain’s ageless pines

　　 Unyielding and pure, a red heart devoted to the revolution

　　 Bold in speech and forgiving in heart, a righteous soul serving the people

　　 The hosting organization delivers a birthday congratulatory speech, leaders give addresses, and soft music plays in the background. Before the meal begins, four symbolic longevity fruits are displayed on the table, and the phrase "Long Live, Long Live, Long Live Without Bounds" is presented as a dish on the viewing stand. Throughout the banquet, major dishes all feature the character for "longevity," with each dish announced by name along with a humorous verse. The staple foods mainly consist of longevity noodles and peach-shaped buns. The meal concludes with a dish of Buddha’s longevity melon.

　　 The eight main dishes of the formal banquet are:

　　 1. Longevity Like the Southern Mountain (This dish involves carving patterns such as landscapes, pine trees, cranes, the god of longevity, and peaches onto the skin of a pumpkin. The flesh and seeds are then scooped out and filled with cooked eight-treasure rice, which is steamed for 10 minutes.)

　　 2. Rejuvenation (A dish made by cooking an old turtle together with a young chicken—both ingredients being tonics. The dish takes its name from the “old” in turtle and the “young” in young chicken.)

　　 3. Prolong Life and Enhance Longevity (Made with Chinese yam, date paste, and cherries. Yam is also called “jade yam,” and cherries often carry the character for “longevity,” hence the creative name “Prolong Life and Enhance Longevity.”)

　　 4. Boundless Future Blessings (This dish uses black carp, also known as thick fish. “Thick” is a homophone for “future,” and regularly eating black carp is believed to bring good health, hence the name “Boundless Future Blessings.”)

　　 5. Live Forever and Never Age (A stew made with pork intestines, sea cucumber, and greens. Intestine shares a sound with “long,” and sea cucumber with “life,” while greens contribute the character for “green,” resulting in “Live Forever and Never Age,” symbolizing eternal youth.)

　　 6. Live to a Hundred Years (This dish is a celebratory expression wishing people long life. It uses pork intestines and lamb small intestine as main ingredients. The shared sound of “intestine” and “long” gives the name “Live to a Hundred Years.”)

　　 7. Harmony and Kindness Bring Longevity (This dish primarily features mudfish from the Zhang River—also called “eel”—cooked with boiled pork intestines. It symbolizes that harmony and kindness lead to a long life. Eel and “kindness,” intestine and “long” are homophones, hence the name “Harmony and Kindness Bring Longevity.”)

　　 8. Happiness Like the Eastern Sea (A winter melon is carved on the outside with images of “happiness, prosperity, and longevity.” Its flesh and seeds are removed, and a nourishing soup made with precious ingredients and herbs from the sea, mountains, air, and land is poured inside. The melon is then steamed for 10 minutes.)

　　 When serving the eight main dishes of the formal banquet, each is announced by name, followed by a matching phrase. For example:

　　 Longevity Like the Southern Mountain’s Ageless Pines, Meritorious Figures of the Revolution Are Heroes.

　　 Rejuvenate Each Year With Youthful Vitality, Live to a Hundred and Still Not Be Satisfied.

　　 Prolong Life and Feel Young Again, Changzhi’s Face Renewed Everywhere.

　　 Boundless Future With Great Harvests, Revolutionary Traditions Must Not Be Lost.

　　 Live Forever With Spirited Vigor, Dare to Confront All Evils.

　　 Live to a Hundred Years Year by Year, Uphold Uprightness for the People.

　　 Harmony and Kindness Lead to Progress, Your Life’s Journey Was Worth It.

　　 Happiness Like the Eastern Sea’s Flowing Waters, The Meritorious Figures’ Longevity Feast Is Simply Wonderful.