X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Winter Solstice Or Dongzhi Festival: 7 Things You Should Know!

3 min read

The Winter Solstice or Dongzhi festival is usually celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians on or around 22 December every year.

Here are some fun facts about this festival that you may not have known!

It symbolises the peak of winter

Winter Solstice Or Dongzhi Festival: 7 Things You Should Know!

Image source: iStock

“Dongzhi” means ‘the extreme of winter’ and scientifically speaking, this is the shortest day of the year or the longest night of the year.

It symbolises a turning point for after this day, days will start getting longer and nights shorter.

It is an auspicious day

The Winter Solstice Festival heralds a time for optimism.

In Chinese culture, Winter solstice is related to the theory of Yin and Yang.

The Chinese believe that Yang symbolizes masculine and positive and Yin means the opposite. Apparently, at the Winter Solstice, the Yin is at its peak and will disappear gradually. While the Yang or positivity will get stronger by the day.

After the Winter Solstice, days will be longer. The longer daylight symbolises more positive energy in the coming days. Which is why Winter Solstice is regarded as an auspicious day to celebrate. 

Day for family gatherings

The Winter Solstice is traditionally a time for the family to get together, just like Westerners do on Christmas.

In the olden days, farmers and fishermen would take time off from work and reunite with their families with a lavish meal. 

Tangyuan or glutinous rice balls are served

Winter Solstice Or Dongzhi Festival: 7 Things You Should Know!

Image source: iStock

It is a tradition to eat tangyuan, or glutinous rice balls on this day. Tangyuan are stuffed small dumpling balls made of glutinous rice flour and served in hot sugar water.

Tangyuan symbolises reunion or wholeness and unity.

You become one year older!

That’s right! The Winter Solstice festival is also considered as an ‘Asian birthday’ among the Chinese. This is because of the turning point it symbolises, which also marks the start of a new solar term.

In fact, many Chinese, especially the elderly, consider this day as everyone’s birthday! It is believed that the whole world just got a year older after this day! 🙂

Worshipping ancestors

This is also a day to worship ancestors and respect parents and elders.

It is almost as important as the Chinese New Year!

Winter Solstice Or Dongzhi Festival: 7 Things You Should Know!

Image source: iStock

Yep, though not as well-known, the Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals for Chinese, and some even consider it as the “Small New Year”!

Partner Stories
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Pongal 2023: Things to Know About the Harvest Festival In Singapore
Pongal 2023: Things to Know About the Harvest Festival In Singapore
Flavours of Mid-Autumn With Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Flavours of Mid-Autumn With Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Two New Art Experiences for the Young and Young at Heart by Singapore Art Museum to Check Out From June 2022
Two New Art Experiences for the Young and Young at Heart by Singapore Art Museum to Check Out From June 2022

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Jaya

  • Home
  • /
  • Festivals & Holidays
  • /
  • Winter Solstice Or Dongzhi Festival: 7 Things You Should Know!
Share:
  • 11 Places To Rent And Buy New And Secondhand Winter Clothes In Singapore

    11 Places To Rent And Buy New And Secondhand Winter Clothes In Singapore

  • Rediscovering forgotten traditions with Old Hong Kong restaurant

    Rediscovering forgotten traditions with Old Hong Kong restaurant

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • 11 Places To Rent And Buy New And Secondhand Winter Clothes In Singapore

    11 Places To Rent And Buy New And Secondhand Winter Clothes In Singapore

  • Rediscovering forgotten traditions with Old Hong Kong restaurant

    Rediscovering forgotten traditions with Old Hong Kong restaurant

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.