Blog

Winter Solstice – China

22-12-2017

In southern China, The Winter Solstice Festival (冬至节, DongZhi Festival) is the second most important celebration in the year, with Chinese New Year being the most important.   The Winter Solstice Festival falls during the 11th lunar month, with the date changing each year to match the lunar calendar.

In Hong Kong in particular, most people finish work early on this day and go home to eat a delicious meal with their family.  Included on the menu is the famous ‘tongyuen’  (balls of sticky rice, usually with a sweet middle – often black sesame and sugar, or peanut and sugar), where the shape represents the full moon, as well as the word sounding like the Chinese word meaning ‘reunion’.

How students and homestay can celebrate

For the few students still in the UK during this holiday, a special treat with homestays can be to buy these ‘tongyuen’, and cook them for a few minutes in boiling water with fresh ginger and rock sugar.  All ingredients are readily available in the frozen section of Chinese supermarkets, and will be a real treat for students missing home.

Happy Winter Solstice!