Dong Zhi Festival 冬至

TangYuan 汤圆 1...

Every year on 21st or 22nd December, every chinese family will celebrate DongZhi Festival 冬至. Traditionally, this festival was celebrated for the end of the shortest daylight and welcomed the longer daylight in the following days, as daylight was very important for farmers...

The Dongzhi Festival 冬至 or Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during the Dongzhi solar term on or around December 22 when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.

TangYuan 汤圆 served grinded peanut...

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in. The philosophical significance of this is symbolized by the I Ching hexagram fù 復 (Returning).

Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival 冬至 is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of TangYuan 汤圆 or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. TangYuan 汤圆 are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large TangYuan 汤圆 in addition to several small ones. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed. They are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl. (Source: Wikipedia.com)

TangYuan 汤圆 2...

This year, my mother had a new recipe for TangYuan 汤圆. Instead of pink and white TangYuan 汤圆 served with plain sweet soup every year before this, the TangYuan 汤圆 has changed colour to yellow (pumpkin) and red (dragon fruit) served with LuoHanGuo 罗汉果 soup. But after boiled, the colour of the TangYuan 汤圆 had changed to LuoHanGuo 罗汉果 soup' colour as the soup absorbed to the surface of TangYuan 汤圆. The TangYuan 汤圆 will be tastier if eaten with grinded peanut... :D

TangYuan 汤圆 with peanut...

Qing Ming Festival

The Qing Ming Festival, meaning Clear and Bright Festival, is a traditional Chinese festival on the 104th day after the winter solstice (or the 15th day from the Spring Equinox), usually occurring around April 5th of the Gregorian calendar. Every leap year, Qing Ming is on April 4th.

For the Chinese, it is a day to remember and honour one's ancestors at grave sites. Young and old pray before the ancestors, sweep the tombs and offer food, tea, wine, chopsticks, (joss) paper accessories, and/or libation to the ancestors.
Source: Wikipedia

As for me, from my 3rd primary school year, I had never failed to join my family to visit my grandparent's tomb to honour before them and sweeps their tomb with my father side's other family members. This year, we celebrated one week earlier (last Sunday) and as usual, we had to wake up at 6.00am.

When I was still in my primary school till secondary school day, I never appreciate such traditional festival because had to wake up early in the morning in order to prevent traffic jam near the grave sites. But for now, it is nice to enjoy this important day as I can meet, chat, joke and having breakfast (at the tomb) with other family members. :)

Below are some of the pics taken during my annual visit to my grandparent's tomb last Sunday. Enjoy...



Located on the hill, at the last row and have the best view together with their neighbours...


Offering foods...not as many as last year...


Fresh chrysanthemum...


Burning joss sticks and candles...


Offering joss papers...


Praying Servant God, who served my grandparent's in afterworld...


Glove I used to clean up the wild plants from the tomb...


Joss sticks and joss papers on the grave...


A box of joss paper accesories and 'gold' shaped joss papers for offering...


Sending (burning) to the afterworld...


My grandmother liked it very much... :)