祝福大家冬至快樂 〜 Happy Winter Solstice!
冬至是北半球全年中白天最短、黑夜最長的一天，過了冬至，白天就會一 天天變長。傳統上中國北方大部分地區在這一天都會吃餃子，南方則有吃湯圓的習俗，都是寓意年終團聚。
小時候很愛過冬至，因為媽媽常說:「冬至大如年」，意指冬至的禮俗隆重如同年節。於是下午放學後便會趕緊回家，媽媽通常已把湯圓煮好，熱熱地給我們盛上一碗，吃過後就會很興奮地期待晚飯 ; 因為知道所有最渴望吃到的菜肴，都會在當晚擺滿一桌。
身為人母後，才深切明暸母親的心意，發現自己也不時重複她所說所做的。特別是當兒女現在都長大了，工作生活在外，每次冬至前，我就開始提醒他們兄妹:「別忘了早點回來啊 !『冬至大如年』」。我總是絮絮叨叨地不厭其煩。
Winter Solstice is one of the twenty-four Solar terms on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, and over time it has become one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals.
It’s sometimes referred to as the ‘Winter Festival’, or the ‘Winter Solstice Festival’. The date usually falls between the 21st-23rd December and marks the peak of winter; this is the shortest day of the year with the longest night – after this the days gradually grow longer again. Because of this, the big family meal enjoyed on this day is called the ‘ Mid-winter’s feast’.
Traditionally people in Northern China prepare rice flour dumplings for the occasion, whereas in the South of China glutinous rice flour balls are made to celebrate the festival. Both types of food symbolise the happy reunion of families at the end of the year.
I loved the Winter Solstice festival very much as a child because my mum always told us that it was as important an event as Chinese New Year. I’d rush home after school, knowing that a bowl of delicious, hot glutinous rice flour balls would be handed to me the minute I walked through the door. I’d then wait excitedly for dinner in the evening, because without fail all my favourite dishes would be there on the table.
Since becoming a mother, I’ve come to understand intuitively the family values my mother cherished and impressed upon us. I find myself copying the things she did subconsciously. Even now that my children are both working and living away from home, every year before the festival I remind them, “Don’t forget to come home early to have our dinner. Winter Solstice is as important as the Chinese New Year.” Just like my mother told me.
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