its WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL.Traditionally, the SOLSTICE Festival is also a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers ) is the making and eating of tong yuen(湯圓) or balls of glutinuous rice, which symbolize reunion. tong yuen are made of glutinuous rice flour and sometimes brightly coloured. Each family member receives at least one large tong yuen 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. It is also often served with a mildly alcoholic unfiltered rice wine containing whole grains of glutinous rice.
In northern China, people typically eat dumplings on Dongzhi. It is said to have originated from Zhang Zhongjing in the Han Dynasty. On one cold winter day, he saw the poor suffering from chilblains on their ears. Feeling sympathetic, he ordered his apprentices to make dumplings with lamb and other ingredients, and distribute them among the poor to keep them warm, to keep their ears from getting chilblains. Since the dumplings were shaped like ears, Zhang named the dish "qùhán jiāoěr tāng" (祛寒嬌耳湯) or dumpling soup that expels the cold. From that time on, it has been a tradition to eat dumplings on the day of Dongzhi.
this what i found in wikipedia about winter solstice festival. =) so, HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL to everyone. =)
