How much do you know the Winter Solstice Festival (Dongzhi Festival)?
Winter Solstice is an important solar term among the 24 solar terms in the Lunar calendar and a traditional Chinese festival. It is also called Dongzhi which means “Winter Arrives” in China.
Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival welcomes the return of longer days and the corresponding increase in positive energy in the year to come.
Why Chinese celebrate it?
According to the Chinese astrology, Yang symbolizes masculine and positive, Yin has the opposite meanings.
The ancient people think from the winter solstice, the Yin is at its peak and will disappear gradually. While the Yang or positive things will become stronger and stronger from the day. So winter solstice is regarded as an auspicious day to celebrate.
What is the custom?
The most traditional food for this celebration in southern China is the glutinous rice balls known as tang yuan, often brightly colored and cooked in sweet or savory broth. Northern Chinese enjoy plain or meat-stuffed dumplings, a particularly warming and nourishing food for a midwinter celebration.
Some places even have the tradition to offer sacrifices to the heaven and earth. In short, the Dongzhi Winter Solstice Festival is celebrated as a time for the entire family to get together to celebrate the past good year.
