Winter Solstice Festival: A Traditional Chinese Festival

Winter Solstice is an important solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and a traditional festival. It marks the beginning of the coldest season of the year and is also regarded as the node of the transformation of yin and yang.

Customs of Winter Solstice

Eating dumplings: Eating dumplings on Winter Solstice is the most common custom in northern China. Dumplings are shaped like ears, and people believe that eating dumplings will prevent their ears from freezing.

Eating glutinous rice balls: In the south, the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the winter solstice is more common. Glutinous rice balls symbolize reunion and imply family happiness.

Ancestor worship: On the day of winter solstice, people will worship their ancestors to express their respect.

Nourishing the body during the winter solstice: The winter solstice is the best time of the year to nourish the body. People will eat some nourishing foods, such as mutton, chicken soup, etc. to enhance the body's resistance.

Sunbathing on the Winter Solstice: There is little sunlight in winter, so people choose to sunbathe on the Winter Solstice to absorb vitamin D from the sunlight.