Tomorrow 22/12 will be a day for the chinese to celebrate winter solstice 冬至 (dong zhi) (some call it the Chinese Christmas) some chinese call it 元宵节 (yuan xiao) . It’s the most important event among the 24 seaonal changes/festives in the chinese calender, even more important than the Chinese New Year. (The origin of 24 seasonal changes (二十四节气) is according to the changes according to the climate/season. They are 立春、雨水、惊蛰、春分、清明、谷雨、立夏、小满、芒种、夏至、小暑、大暑、立秋、处暑、白露、秋分、寒露、霜降、立冬、小雪、大雪、冬至、小寒、大寒)
The Chinese always say “冬至大过年” (Winter Solstice is greater than the New Year) and I remeber when I was young, my father or the Cantonese always have this joke of “冬至大过年, 老婆大过奶”.
During the day, it’s believe to be the shortest day with the least daylight throughout the year. After this day, longer daylight will be seen. That’s why it also signify a better new start of another year.
During the winter solstice day, it’s common practise for the family to have reunion dinner. Some chinese like Cantonese will have sticky glutinous rice , Hakka will have herbal chicken and other special dish, but all chinese never miss the glutionus rice ball.
The balls are made of glutionous rice flour and using in white and red in colour. And it’s serve with sweetened liquid.
Last year my kids help to roll the balls and they enjoyed it very much…. and tonight I’m going to involve the kids again.
Posted by dragonmummy 
Posted by dragonmummy 
