The winter solstice (or hibernal solstice), also known as midwinter, is an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere this is the December solstice and in the Southern Hemisphere this is the June solstice.
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (Chinese: 冬至; pinyin: Dōngzhì; literally: “the extreme of winter”) is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice) on or around December 22 (according to East Asia time).[1][2]
The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos.[3]After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, “Returning”).
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Dumplings of the Tung Cheh or Dongzhi Festival ( Winter Solstice Festival )
Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get-togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (湯圓) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls are occasionally pink or green. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savory broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang.
| Official name | Dongzhi (冬至) |
|---|---|
| Also called | Tang-cheh (冬節) Tōji (冬至) Dongji (동지) Đông Chí |
| Observed by | Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese |
| Type | Cultural |
| Significance | Marks the winter solstice |
| Observances | making and eating of tangyuan, ancestor worship |
| Date | Winter solstice (between December 21 and December 23) |
| 2016 date | December 21 |
| 2017 date | December 22 |
| 2018 date | December 22 |
| 2019 date | December 22 |
| Frequency | annual |
| Related to | Winter solstice |
Extracted from Wikipedia
S. P.'s Space of 6 T's - Tastes, Theatre, Thoughts, Time, Travels, and Treatments ...... 