Little 时旭

We will be celebrating Winter solstice festival(冬至)at my in law place .Winter solstice festival usually falls between 21 and 23 in solar calender,when sunshine is weakest and daylight is shortest (it means this is the longest night of the year! ) .This year the festival falls on 22 Dec 2009 .

It is said to be the Chinese Thanksgiving of the Chinese Calendar,I was told by my in law that it is widely celebrated as an event that is more important than the Chinese New Year at China and Korea .


Mother in law had prepared the dough to make the gluninous rice ball for tomorrow .The Children ( Shi Xu and his cousins ) got excited as they had the chance to play with the coloured dough.

I pinched off the dough into smaller bits and guided Shi Xu how do roll the dough in between his palms and rolled them into balls. Shi Xu always rolled the dough into a long strand like a snake (but he said that is catipillar ) .To be more creative , we made pyramid ,ring with diamond ,mashmallow ,snow man etc(just for fun ) . Everyone did enjoy this fun activity .We looked more like playing Playdoh than making the glutinous rice ball . Haha....

Winter solstice festival is a very beautiful tradition where family members get together to have a meal. The roundness of the rice balls signifies a wholesome, complete family as well.

Happy Winter Solstice festival !