Why is it that Chinese have to put fruits and favorite food during the wake of a loved one?

The food is put out so the deceased won't go hungry in the afterlife. There are a bunch of different papers that get burned. Some signify money, clothes, bus transfers, and now they even make fake burnable jewelry. The presention of the food and burning of the paper happen a bunch of times throughout the year such as Graveyard Sweeping Day and other auspicious days dedicated to the dead.

If memory serves and they followed the rituals of some other religions.

The food was to make sure that the soul of the deceased did not go their idea of Heaven hungry and maybe come back to haunt the living relatives for stinting it . The paper rolls usually had prayers for the deceased written on them to help protect them on the path to Heaven.

i'm chinese. when my grandfather passed away 6 years ago, we burned rolled up pieces of paper because it signifies money for the deceased to use in the afterlife; the food is so they won't be hungry in their afterlife.

the chinese put food for their ancestors in the afterlife..they also burn money in envelopes for them so they will have money..but the recipients name has to be on the envelope so not just any ghost can grab it.there are many fascinating rituals involved.

For the hungry ghost of the deceased.

these kind of things make those left behind in life think about what is passed...it's a matter of focus....focus on lessons learned and lessons gone by....I am a Chinese born American

I guess they believe that if they will do that, it can help their dead in the next life!