The Value and Symbol of Traditional Snack in Chinatown

Traditional food displayed and sold in the traditional market Gang Baru Semarang does not mean as the way to meet the basic need for people living nearby the location. These foods may also function to fulfill spiritual manifestation of people that buy and use the food for celebrating festival, feast and ritual tradition. This article aims to explain the naming system, function and the symbol behind the various kinds of food in this market. The data were collected by observing the activity conducted the buyer and the seller . The writer also interviewd some of them to get additional information related to values and norms that make people serve tese foods. The results show that the naming system applied is based on the ingredient, shape and also the way they peoduce the food. Besides, these foods and cakes are also servede as media for performing a ritual traditionon for Chinese ethnic. Behind the name, there are some symbolic meaning which is believed as the manifestation of their belief to the values inhertited from their anchestors. The symbol is represented through the shape, the color and the number. Each of them pictures how this community see food and snack sold in traditional market located in Gang Baru Semarang.