Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice (Dongzhi)is the 22nd of the 24 solar terms. Deep winter has arrived, the cold grows stronger, and the land is quietly changing. It is a time when farming work slows down and all living things rest and recover, preparing for the coming spring.

In Fujian, Winter Solstice customs vary from place to place, just like the local dialects where sounds change every few miles. Some people eat dumplings, some eat Tangyuan, and others make rice cakes. In Fuzhou, people brew “qinghong” rice wine on this day. In Xiamen, people enjoy ginger duck to nourish the body during the Winter Solstice.