December 22 marks this year's "Dongzhi" or Winter Solstice, the 22nd of the 24 solar terms based on China's lunar calendar. On this day, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the longest night of the year, as the sun shines directly at the Tropic of Capricorn. Dongzhi also marks the coming of the coldest period of the year, which is known as "Shujiu Hantian" in Chinese, believed to be the coldest days.
Dongzhi also marks the coming of the coldest period of the year. /VCG
The celebration of Dongzhi is very important in China. There is an old saying: "Dongzhi is as significant as the Spring Festival", as ancient Chinese used to celebrated the day of Dongzhi as the beginning of a new year, and this custom could be dated back to before the Qin Dynasty (1046 B.C.--207 B.C.). On this day, Chinese people living in the north will eat dumplings while those who live in the south usually eat Tangyuan, or glutinous rice dumplings.
Eating dumplings is considered as a custom to celebrate Dongzhi. /VCG
The representing animals for this solar term are earthworm and milu deer. According to the three pentads which describes the phenological changes that happen during the solar term, earthworms will still be curled up during the period, and milu deer's deciduous antlers can be seen falling off. Ancient Chinese believed these changes happened to fauna are related to the changes of Yin and Yang.
Milu deer's antlers could be seen falling off during the Dongzhi solar term. /VCG
(Video provided by the Zhongshan Broadcasting and Television Station. Artwork and inscription by Li Xiwu, a member of China Artists Association.)
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