Dong Zhi

Today is Dong Zhi, literally meaning the "arrival of winter"”. It is an important festival of the Chinese calendar and the Chinese regards this day as a day of thanksgiving. Dong Zhi is celebrated on the longest night of the year, when sunshine is weakest and daylight is the shortest. It usually falls between Dec 21 and 23 in the solar calender.

Dong Zhi is the last festival of the year. It coincides with the winter solstice and it is a time for the entire family to get together to celebrate the past good year. Some Chinese “traditionalists” believe that everyone turns a year older after Dong Zhi. Glutinous rice balls known as Tang Yuan are made, cooked and eaten to signify unity and harmony within the family. Tang Yuan can be plain or rolled around a filling of sesame, peanuts, red bean or almond. TangYuan are often cooked in peanut or ginger soup. The round shape symbolizes wholeness and unity.

<>I just finished a bowl of Tang Yuan which my family makes them ourselves. Some Chinese practise the custom of eating the number of Tang Yuan according to the age, for e.g. one eats 12 Tang Yuan when one is 12 years old. However, I usually eat more than my age because I am greedy. Haha. Tang Yuan are easily available in supermarkets and food centres. There are two places that sell quite delicious Tang Yuan, at Outram Park and Beach Road. Kiah Shen and I will update the exact location later.