A villager of Dagze County in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, is boiling Guthuk, a kind of dough soup, to embrace the Tibetan New Year which falls on Feb. 22, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

 Family members reunite and eat Guthuk together, an important traditional custom,which brings festivity and laughter. [Photo/Xinhua] 

Traditional customs including eating Guthuk opened the prelude of celebrations on the 29th day of December on Tibetan calendar, two days ahead of Tibetan New Year, or Losar.

As the most important festival for Tibetans, the local residents have their unique ways of celebration. According to the Tibetan customs, eating Guthuk, a kind of dough soup, means embracing the New Year.

It is also a traditional custom adding festive atmosphere and laughter during family reunion because the different stuffings in the doughs indicating different personalities or varied fortunes in the next year.

The special food Guthuk usually consists of nine stuffings, including pepper, wool, charcoal, cobble, coin and so on. When one eats the stuffing inside the dough, he needs to pick it out and explain its meaning. Everyone will laugh if someone in the family happens to choose a cobble, which means hardhearted.

After eating the Guthuk, everyone set off fireworks, throwing torches to embrace the New Year.

Though "eating Guthuk" may vary from region to region, every household keeps the habit in the whole Tibet.