Winter Solstice（冬至）

Dean

It is Winter Solstice(Mid-winter) today. It is tradtion for people in China to have Jiaozi (Chinese dumplings) for today. Here is a passage about Winter Solstice.

Ancient Chinese astronomers (天文学家）divided the whole year into 24 solar terms（节气）according to climate changes. There is one term every two weeks, and the Winter Solstice is the 22nd solar term. It often falls between December 21 and 23. The Chinese in ancient（古代）times found out that the Winter Solstice was the shortest day in a year, after which the sun begins its slow return to the North. The lunar Chinese new year will only be one month and a half away from the Winter Solstice.

There may be two reasons why the Chinese hold celebrations（庆祝）on this day. One, is that after a hard working year, farmers always take a rest to enjoy their bountiful（丰富的）harvest. The second reason has to do with the theory of Yin and Yang. In Chinese philosophy（哲学）, Yin symbolizes（代表）the feminine（阴/女性） and negative（负的）qualities of the universe while Yang the masculine（阳/男性）and positive（正的）. It is dialectical（辩证的）and dynamic（动力的）in a sense. When something has reached one extreme（端头）, it will turn to the oposite. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the Yin is at its peak（高峰/极点）with the longest night. From then on, it will give way to the light and warmth of Yang. And the Chinese consider it a right time for optimism（乐观）and joy.

If you want to learn more about Traditional Chinese Festivals please click Tradtional Chinese Festivals.

城市猎人

yes i agree with you  ! no snow no winter in north . do you find the snow is not too much in beijing.

Dean

There used to be much snow here in Beijing but it doesn't snow much now.