Weakest Sunshine X Shortest Daylight: Winter Solstice 冬至

The Dōngzhì Festival or

Winter Solstice Festival

Chinese: 冬至; pinyin: Dōngzhì;

literally "the Extreme of Winter"

is celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians

during the Dongzhi solar term (winter solstice)

on or around December 22

when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.

 

The origins of this festival can be traced back

to the yin and yang philosophy

of balance and harmony in the cosmos.

 

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").

 

Tangyuan

balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion

 

on Dongzhi’s eve

 

early morning of Dongzhi

served for ancestral worshipping

 

afternoon of Dongzhi

ancestral worshipping

sumptuous dishes would be prepared

similar to the Reunion Dinner on

Chinese New Year’s eve

on usual days,

our meals are not meat-heavy

but for ancestral worshipping

there most be meat of all kind

as a form of gratitude

for all the blessings throughout the year

 

baby and her product

they were boiled

with ordinary water

anyone ate it?

no one really knows