12.22.2023 Chinese traditional festival “Winter Solstice”

Winter Solstice is one of the traditional festivals of the Chinese nation and the earliest one of the twenty-four solar terms. More than 3,000 years ago, the ancients observed the sun through Tugui and determined the arrival time of the winter solstice, which was between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year. The winter solstice is the day with the shortest day and the longest night in the whole year in the northern hemisphere. It heralds the official arrival of winter. After that, the days will get longer day by day, which is the winter solstice.

After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, “Shu Jiu”. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In the first and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourth nine days, people can walk on ice; in the fifth and sixth nine days, people can see willows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comes back and in the ninth nine days, the yak starts working

“Winter Solstice” is not only a solar term but an important festival. Here are some traditional foods for “Winter Solstice”.

Depending on the region, people will eat dumplings, drink hot soup, eat glutinous rice balls, etc. on this day