Let’s Have a ‘Solstice’-sational Time!
January 10, 2025
Chatteris tutor Lora Ruan delves into a lesser-known facet of Chinese culture – the festival celebrating winter solstice!
Why was the day feeling down? It was just too short! When December comes around we see the nights get longer and the days get chillier. We depend on holidays such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas to look forward to! But what about the winter solstice (冬至 dung1 zi3 or 冬節 dung1 zit3 in Cantonese)? “Winter solstice? What’s that?” you may ask. Well, according to an article in the South China Morning Post, it used to be an important time to harvest crops, worship one’s ancestors, and prepare for feasts, much like Chinese New Year. The winter solstice represents a time to celebrate with family and friends as the crops are all harvested and the soil preparation is complete. What better occasion to spend together? This is why some people may say the winter solstice is more important than Chinese New Year. In 2024, it fell on Saturday, December 21st.
What do Chinese people typically eat during the winter solstice? On this holiday, it is typical to eat dumplings, porridge, and most popular in Southern China, glutinous rice balls or 湯圓 tong1 jyun4. For the sweet variety, there are many different types of fillings you can find, such as black sesame, peanut, and even egg lava which is molten, salted egg yolk custard! In Southern China, they also make a savoury soup version which includes vegetables and seafood such as shrimp, carrots, and mushrooms, perfect for a chilly day! The roundness of the rice balls represents family unity. In fact, the second character in tong yun (圓) means ’round’/’ball’ but it is also found in the word for ‘reunite’.
So next December go and try some 湯圓 tong1 jyun4, which can be found in dessert shops or in the frozen section at the supermarket! Did you know only one country recognises the winter solstice to be a national holiday? To find out which one, you can watch this video!
Additionally, you can find out more about the holiday and glutinous rice balls by reading the article or watching a video on how to make savoury tong1 jyun4 below.
The winter solstice holiday is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Chinese culture! As a Chatteris tutor, cultural exchange is a big part of the experience, both learning about culture in Hong Kong and sharing your own with students. Peak your interest? Click here to apply for the Chatteris International Graduate Programme today!