It’s Dong Zhi (Winter Solstic Festival) today, the second most important festival of the Chinese calendar.

Celebrated on the longest night of the year, Dong Zhi is the day when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The coming of winter is celebrated by families and is traditionally the time when farmers and fishermen gather food in preparation for the coming cold season. It is also a time for family reunions.

In modern times, it is a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers is the making and eating of Tang Yuan or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. Tang Yuan are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Every one in the family receives at least one large Tang Yuan and 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.

Too bad, it’s going to be another year without the Tang Yuan again.

But, still, Happy Dong Zhi to everyone who celebrate this festival.

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