The Winter Solstice 冬至
The Winter Solstice usually arrives around December 22nd in the Gregorian calendar. It is a significant traditional festival with a long history in China.
冬至通常在公历 12 月 22 日左右到来。它是中国历史悠久的重要传统节日。
Origin: In ancient times, people observed that the day of the Winter Solstice was the shortest and the night was the longest. They believed that from this day on, the yang energy started to grow gradually, symbolizing the revival and renewal of all things. There was a saying that "The Winter Solstice is as important as the New Year."
起源：在古代，人们观察到冬至这天白昼最短，黑夜最长。他们认为从这天起，阳气开始逐渐生长，象征着万物的复苏与更新。有“冬至大如年”的说法。
According to legend, in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, on the Winter Solstice, the Medical Saint Zhang Zhongjing saw that the common people were suffering from hunger and cold, and their ears were even frostbitten. So he set up a large cauldron, boiled mutton, peppers and some cold-expelling medicinal herbs in it. Then he fished out these ingredients, chopped them up, wrapped them in dough skins to make something that looked like ears, and distributed them to the people after cooking. After eating this food, the people's ears were healed. To commemorate Zhang Zhongjing, people eat dumplings every year on the Winter Solstice.
相传东汉末年，医圣张仲景在冬至这天看到百姓饥寒交迫，耳朵都被冻烂了，于是他支起大锅，将羊肉、辣椒和一些驱寒药材放在锅里熬煮，然后将这些食材捞出切碎，用面皮包成像耳朵的样子，煮熟后分给百姓吃，百姓吃了这种食物后耳朵都被治好了。人们为了纪念张仲景，便在每年的冬至这天吃饺子。
Customs: Many families will worship their ancestors on this day. They prepare offerings like fruits, incense, and candles, and place them in front of the ancestral tablets or at the family altar to express their gratitude and remembrance. In some areas, people also have the custom of "counting the nine." They draw or write "Nine - Nine Cold - Dispelling Pictures" to record the progress of the cold winter.
习俗：许多家庭会在这天祭拜祖先。他们准备水果、香烛等祭品，放在祖先牌位前或家中神龛处，以表达感恩与追思。在一些地区，人们还有“数九”的习俗。他们绘制或书写“九九消寒图”，记录寒冬的进程。
Cuisine: In northern China, eating dumplings is a common practice. The shape of dumplings resembles ears, and it is said to protect ears from frostbite. In southern China, people usually eat sweet glutinous rice balls. The round balls signify family reunion and happiness.
饮食：在中国北方，吃饺子是常见习俗。饺子形状酷似耳朵，据说能保护耳朵不被冻伤。在中国南方，人们通常吃甜汤圆。圆圆的汤圆寓意家庭团圆与幸福。
关键词
1. Winter Solstice [ˈwɪntər ˈsɑːlstɪs] 冬至
2. origin [ˈɔːrɪdʒɪn] 起源
3. yang energy [ˈjæŋ ˈenərdʒi] 阳气
4. worship [ˈwɜːrʃɪp] 祭拜
5. ancestors [ˈænsestərz] 祖先
6. offerings [ˈɔːfərɪŋz] 祭品
7. count the nine [kaʊnt ðə naɪn] 数九
8. dumplings [ˈdʌmplɪŋz] 饺子
9. glutinous rice balls [ˈɡluːtənəs raɪs bɔːlz] 汤圆
10. family [ˈ fæməli] 家庭
问题
1. Why is the Winter Solstice considered important in ancient times?
2. What is the difference in food customs between northern and southern China during the Winter Solstice?
