The Winter Solstice is the 22nd of the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms, and this year falls on Dec. 22. On the day of the Winter Solstice, the northern hemisphere will experience the shortest daytime and longest night of the year. From then on, the days become longer, and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year.

Being a traditional holiday, it is also celebrated quite often in many regions. Early during the Spring and Autumn period, 2500 odd years from now, Winter Solstice was first determined as the Chinese traditional solar term among the total 24 solar terms. In the Gregorian calendar, it is around Dec 22nd or 23rd.

The Winter Solstice is one of the most important days of the year, a day for family togetherness. On this day, people in northern China will eat Jiaozi. People in southern China will make and eat tang yuan, or rice dumplings, to symbolize the reunion of family. There is a saying that "the Winter Solstice is as important as the Spring Festival".

(By Yang Jiming/Qi Qian)