According to research, the custom of eating melon seeds was popular in Ming Dynasty. Watermelon seeds were mainly used before the late Qing Dynasty. Pumpkin seeds have been very popular since the late Qing Dynasty. Sunflower seeds rose suddenly and became very popular in the Republic of China. Eating melon seeds may have originated in the north, not only because the records of eating melon seeds are mainly found in historical documents in the north, but also because the winter in the north is very long, and people stay at home all day to keep out the cold during busy farming. The main ways to kill time are eating melon seeds and chatting, thus spreading the custom of eating melon seeds.
Zhang Xuexin, a psychology professor at Fudan University, said that people like to eat melon seeds for several reasons. First of all, melon seeds are very convenient to eat and prepare. Taking them out to entertain guests not only reflects the host's hospitality, but also makes the guests feel "hospitality" by eating melon seeds, which virtually sets a pleasant tone for social activities.
Secondly, eating melon seeds can relieve tension. In the process of social interaction, people often feel nervous and embarrassed. People will feel relaxed when they have food in their hands. Therefore, we often invite people to drink or eat dessert to relax the participants. But it is easy to make mistakes after drinking, and the consumption of dessert is very large. Therefore, cheap and easily available melon seeds have become a good food choice for everyone. At the same time, eating melon seeds can be broken down into several small moves, which is simple and easy to do, makes people feel happy, and can also alleviate the tension when eating. Finally, eating melon seeds is a small amount of repetitive eating behavior. It can stop at any time or pick it up at any time to continue eating, which can provide enough time for social activities.