The Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the dongzhi solar term on or around December 21 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.
Traditionally, this festival is also a time for the family to get together and one activity that occurs during these get-togethers is the making and eating of 'Tang Yuan' or balls of glutinuous rice (which comprises of white & pink color). This day also symbolize family unity and prosperity.
One belief of the chinese on this day is that: if on the early morning of this day there is rain, then the first day of Chinese New Year will be bright & sunny, however if it shines, then it will be vice versa. Though some might say its just a superstitious belief, but....... I've been monitoring it year in and year out since I was a child, and it seems to be very accurate!!
Another thing to share about this day, regarding eating the glutinous rice balls......... my mum used to prepare it every year when we were young and insist that we all MUST eat it or else 'you won't be a year older'. Being children, we all love to be a year older, so we all becomes good boys and girls, obediently follow our mum's request, thinking that it is really true!! As we becomes parents, then we come to realise that the reason is not such, instead, this glutinous rice balls are tasteless and most children won't want to eat, so..... mothers used it as a trick to make us eat - reasonable enough though!!! Guess, modern mothers today doesn't need to use this trick anymore as most of them are too busy to even think about preparing it OR....... whether the modern girls & mothers know how to prepare??????
Traditionally, this festival is also a time for the family to get together and one activity that occurs during these get-togethers is the making and eating of 'Tang Yuan' or balls of glutinuous rice (which comprises of white & pink color). This day also symbolize family unity and prosperity.
One belief of the chinese on this day is that: if on the early morning of this day there is rain, then the first day of Chinese New Year will be bright & sunny, however if it shines, then it will be vice versa. Though some might say its just a superstitious belief, but....... I've been monitoring it year in and year out since I was a child, and it seems to be very accurate!!
Another thing to share about this day, regarding eating the glutinous rice balls......... my mum used to prepare it every year when we were young and insist that we all MUST eat it or else 'you won't be a year older'. Being children, we all love to be a year older, so we all becomes good boys and girls, obediently follow our mum's request, thinking that it is really true!! As we becomes parents, then we come to realise that the reason is not such, instead, this glutinous rice balls are tasteless and most children won't want to eat, so..... mothers used it as a trick to make us eat - reasonable enough though!!! Guess, modern mothers today doesn't need to use this trick anymore as most of them are too busy to even think about preparing it OR....... whether the modern girls & mothers know how to prepare??????
Here's a bowl of my home-made 'Glutinous Rice Ball' to share with all......... Have a nice day!!
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