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
