In Northeast China, there are some unique traditions influenced by the cold weather. People have learned to adapt to the environment and survive the cold and dark winters by eating and drinking certain foods.
I learned about the tradition of making pickled cabbage in the winter. I also learned about the similarities between the United States and China when it comes to eating apples in the fall! One day, while I was walking to class, I noticed a large bunch of cabbages laid out on the sidewalk. I was also close to a stand that was selling many apples, though I hadn't seen a lot of apples for sale before. I was confused as to why someone would put so much cabbage on the sidewalk, and why there were suddenly apples being sold everywhere. I asked some of my friends about the sudden appearance of cabbage and apples. They explained to me that, in the winter, people in the northeast make pickled cabbage! If you've ever had a pickle in America, you should know that pickles are actually cucumbers that are soaked in vinegar, water and sugar for several days. In China, they use this same process to make pickled cabbage! My friends also explained that, just like in the United States at this time, apples are in season and they taste the most delicious in the fall!
