version 1, hotpot

Wikipedia says:

Hot pot, also known as Steamboat, is a communal dish which originates from Mongolia, but now eaten in a variety of forms throughout East Asia. It consists of a simmering pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table.

Eating with family or friends is suppose to emphasis unity and togetherness, because it is done from a single shared pot. "Weilu" — to 'circle' a hot pot — has a deep and profound meaning to the Chinese people, who traditionally adhere to Confucian ideas, which strongly emphasize unity with family and clan. The hot pot style of dining is often taken nice and slow; the diners often chat while they are eating together. Traditionally, it was not uncommon for this type of meal to span nearly a full day. Beer is the beverage of choice at a hot pot meal in China. Hot pot is sometimes eaten as part of the Chinese New Year feast. The roundness of the pot is a symbol of family unity.