Today is Winter Solstice in the traditional Chinese calendar. In China, it was originally celebrated as an end-of-harvest festival. Nowadays, it symbolizes family unity and the hope of prosperity.
A busy day for Zheng Jianwei. He’s holding an ancestor worship ceremony for the Zheng family at the ancestral hall in Yutian Village. This is another traditional way to celebrate Dongzhi, or the winter solstice in China. It’s one of the most important times of the year for the villagers.
Zhang Jianwei, a villager, said, “The ceremony is held in memory of our ancestors. It teaches the younger generation abuot their history and roots and the importance of living their lives in a diligent and respectful manner.”
After the ceremony there is a banquet. The line of dishes can stretch as long as 30 meters.
Zheng Qiang, a cook, said, “I got up at 5am this morning and cooked for over 300 people today. It’s like this every year.”
Tangyuan is a dessert made from glutinous rice flour. The flour is mixed with water to form balls and is then cooked in boiling water.
Lin Nan said, “Tangyuan is usually eaten by the family together. The round shape of the balls symbolizes family togetherness. I’m going to give it a try and see if I can make a perfect one.”
Some of the tangyuan are placed on doors after they’re cooked. This is a local custom to show respect to the elderly.
Zheng Qiang said, “We should pass on the tradition of paying our respects and taking care of old people to the next generation.”
For the villagers of Yutian, Dongzhi is a day of unity and commemoration, or just the comfort of sweet and warm tangyuan on a chilly winter day.