DongZhi Festival 冬至

The DongZhi Festival of year 2010 is coming in less than 6 hours. The Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival (冬至 pronounced as  Dōngzhì; literally "the Extreme of Winter") is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese on or around December 22 every year when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. In fact, the Dongzhi Festival is the most important Chinese festival celebration.

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").

Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get together (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of tangyuan (汤圆) or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tangyuan are made of glutinous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tangyuan in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice (and often also Sweet Osmanthus flowers), called jiuniang.

However, in northern China, people typically eat dumplings instead of tangyuan on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. So, it is a difference between the northern and southern China even though all are Chinese.

Old traditions also require people with the same surname or from the same clan to gather at their ancestral temples to worship on this day. There is always a grand reunion dinner following the sacrificial ceremony. The festive food is also a reminder that we are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. Even today, many Chinese around the world, especially the elderly, still insist that one is "a year older" right after the Dongzhi celebration instead of waiting for the Chinese New Year.

So, let us take a look of the different types of tangyuan available.

                                                 
My favourite tangyuan is the picture above that fills with the peanuts. Yummy!!! :P OK, I want to wish all the Chinese a HAPPY DONGZHI FESTIVAL!!! 冬至快乐!!!