What is the Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice, also known as Dongzhi, is one of the important festivals in Chinese culture. This day is the shortest day and the longest night of the year north of the equator. This festival is of great significance because it symbolizes the arrival of winter and the beginning of the lengthening of daylight hours.

The Winter Solstice is an important festival in Chinese culture, a day when families gather together to celebrate. In Chinese communities in southern China and overseas, one of the traditional activities is making and eating glutinous rice balls, which symbolizes reunion. These round dumplings symbolize wholeness and unity, just as the winter solstice marks the completion of another life cycle. In contrast, in northern China, eating dumplings on this auspicious day is more common. These delicacies are believed to bring warmth and nourishment to the body during the cold winter months.

Generally speaking, the winter solstice is an important time for family reunions and feasting. It is a holiday that brings people together to celebrate the changing seasons and the importance of family relationships.