Winter Solstice (Dongzhi) Festival

   Hello everybody! Today is the Winter Solstice (Dongzhi). Every chinese community (mostly) in East Asia, South East Asia as well as other parts of the world will definitely celebrate this festival. So, you all may wondering what are the purposes for us to celebrate this festival? (Some people do not even know about it.)

   Okay, let's talk briefly about this festival (Dongzhi). The Dongzhi Festival (in chinese: 冬至）or Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festival celebrated by the chinese and other East Asians (Japanese, Koreans, Vietnamese...) during the Dongzhi solar term on or around December 22 (according to East Asian especially Chinese Calendar.) The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After the celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therfore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù (復, "returning".)

   Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get-together (Especially in southern China and 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. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or ginger soup (both have also pandan leaf as a ingredient.) On the other hand, the people in northern china are totally different as the people there typically eat dumplings on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhong Jing in the Han Dynasty. Whereas, Taiwanese do also celebrate this festival with their unique style... (more details go and check in www.wikipedia.org.)

   Following that, I do also celebrate this festival. Let's check out the photos:

Preparing the Tangyuans

My mother was making ginger soup with pandan leaf

Its taste damn delicious leh...

     In the end, I can say this festival is amazing (amazing for me because I can eat these Tangyuans, Lol.). You will be 'elder one more year' after eating these tangyuans (some old people saying that.). Besides, I hope my family will get along with each other and live in peaceful and harmony situations after this festival.

(This video teaches you how to make tang yuan...)

   Ok, that's all I want to talk about, hope you enjoy this article and please follow me on my Google + account, twitter (@JiaZhe1) and facebook (username: Jia Zhe Wong)... Thank you, bye!