Dongzhi Festival

The Dongzhi Festival, also known as the Winter Solstice Festival, is a cherished celebration in Chinese and East Asian cultures, including those of Japan and Korea. Held around December 22, this festival marks the Dongzhi solar term and is deeply rooted in the yin and yang philosophy, which emphasizes balance and harmony. It is a time to celebrate the return of longer daylight hours and the increase in positive energy, symbolized by the I Ching hexagram "fù" (復, meaning "Returning").

One of the festival's highlights is family gatherings, where people come together to make and eat tangyuan—glutinous rice balls that symbolize reunion. In southern China, tangyuan is a festive favorite, while in the northern regions, dumplings take center stage. Ancestral worship is another key tradition, often followed by a grand reunion dinner. These festive foods serve as a reminder to strive for better behavior in the coming year, and many Chinese even consider themselves a year older after Dongzhi.

In Taiwan, tangyuan also plays a central role, not just as a dish but as an offering to honor ancestors. Some families place empowered tangyuan around the house as protective talismans. Another unique Taiwanese tradition involves offering nine-layer cakes shaped like auspicious animals as ceremonial sacrifices. To combat the winter chill and boost the body's resistance, Taiwanese people indulge in tonic foods such as mutton hot pot, ginger duck hot pot, and dishes made with nourishing herbs like ginseng and cordyceps. This reflects a strong belief in the importance of nourishing the body during the colder months.