嗑瓜子的历史与习俗——兼及西瓜子利用史略

The History and Customs of the Melon Seeds and the Use of Watermelon Seed

嗑瓜子的习俗在明代就已经比较流行,清代、民国愈演愈烈,该习俗可能是源于节俭的理念,后逐渐发展深入到饮食文化层面,最终成为中国人生活中的一部分。但是在晚清之前,"瓜子"主要指的是西瓜子,晚清以来南瓜子开始流行,民国时期葵瓜子又异军突起,最终确定了三者三足鼎立的局面。

The custom of eating melon seeds was popular in the Ming Dynasty. In the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China it became more intense. The customs may be derived from the thrifty idea, gradually developed into the diet culture, eventually become part of Chinese life. But before the late Qing Dynasty, ＂melon seeds＂ mainly referred to the watermelon seeds, pumpkin seeds became popular since the late Qing Dynasty, and sunflower seeds suddenly rose in the period of the Republic of China. Thus eventually appeared a situation of tripartite confrontation.