Dumplingsintheteachingofthemother,likelikelikedon'tlikeallpackages,finallytoeat,myownpackagedumplings.
Reallyishappyday!
Beingatraditionalholidayaswell,itisstillnowcelebratedquiteofteninmanyregions.EarlyduringtheSpringandAutumnperiod,2500oddyearsfromnow,WintersolsticewasfirstdeterminedastheChinesetraditionalsolartermamongthetotal24terms.InGregoriancalendar,itisaroundDec22ndor23rd.
MidwinterdayistheverydayinNorthhemispherewiththeshortestdayandlongestnightyear-round.Afterit,daytimewillbecomeincreasinglylongerandthecoldestclimewillinvadealltheplacesontheNorthernpartoftheglobe.WeChinesealwayscallit"JinJiu",whichmeansonceWintersolsticecomes,wewillmeetthecoldesttimeahead.
Thatconclusionisprovedwellfounded.Accordingtoscientificresults,onWintersolstice,arightangleisformedbythesunandthetropicofcarpricorn.Thus,theNorthhemispherereceivestheleastsunlightandtheshortestdayandlongestnightoccur.
Ancientchinadidpaygreatattentiontothisholiday,regardingitasabigevent.Therewasthesayingthat"Wintersolsticeholidayisgreaterthanthespringfestival".Nowadays,manyregionsstillcelebrateitasabigholiday.Northernersmayhavedumplingsandraviolisthatdaywhilesouthernersmayhavedumplingsmadebyriceandlongnoodles.Someplacesevenhavethetraditiontooffersacrificestotheheavenandearth.
Onceinthewintersolstice,mymotherandIarereadytomakedumplingsmaterials:somemeat,someofthewrappers.Ipickedupapieceofthewrappersonthelefthand,righthanddugalittlefresh,usechopstickstodumplingslining.Butfreshmeatseemsverylively,leaptojump,verynoteasysealingtopresultsopenagain...Makingdumplingsisreallynoteasy!
Speakofthewintersolsticeeatdumplings,thereisalsoacustom!Inmyhometown-thenorthofhenanprovince,thewintersolsticeeveryfamilytraditionistomakedumplings,eatingdumplings.Asthesayinggoes:"thewintersolsticemisconductdumplingsbowl,frozenoffearsisnobody'sbusiness."
Thecustomofthenorthernwintereatdumplingsisduetothememoryof"themedicalsage"zhangzhongjingwintersolsticemedicineleft.Hungrypeopleeatdumplings,todrinkthe"removecoldsoup",andwarm,fever,twoearsfrostbiteearswerecured.
Nomatteryouhavethehabitofeatingdumplings,wisheveryonehappywintersolstice,happilyandfamilyspenttogetherthehappyholiday!
Thatmorning,mymothergotupearlyinthemorningmakingdumplings,mysisterandIhavefollowedup.Motherputglutinousriceflourinthebowl,leteldersisterpourboiledwaterintothepowder,andglutinousriceball.Motheralsotoldme,ifistoodry,thenaddsomeboiledwater.Formorethantenminuteslater,themotherrollintoamassofglutinousricepowder,Iwanttotakeaglutinousriceballtorubtangyuan.Sistersaid:"sister,youaresoyoung,don'trubdumplings,gotosleep!"Isaid:"Iwillcarefullyrub."So,mymothergavemeasmallpieceofglutinousriceballtorub,Ihaveasmallrubthedumplings,sistersawnotexcitedsay:"callyoudon'trubyoudon'tlistento,watchyourubdumplingsintolikethis!"Mothersaid:"itdoesn'tmatter,thisisbetweenfatherandsonround,justlikeafamily,sosatisfactory."Afterlisteningtothemothersaid,Ihappilytosistergrimaced.
Tangyuanrubwell,momgottocookinthekitchen.Alittlelater,dumplingscooked,motherputtworiceballsonthetopofthedoor.Iaskedmymother:"whydoyoudothat?"Mothersaid:"tangyuansweet,round,saidthepandas,sweet."Motherdishedoutafewbowlofdumplingsforus,said:"eatdumplingsagainlongoneyearold,youcanwanttounderstandmore!"
Iliketoeatdumplings,soIlikethewintersolstice,thewintersolsticerubtangyuanisreallyinteresting,Ihopeeverydayisthewintersolstice.