Happy Winter Solstice – Dōng Zhì 冬至

冬(Dong) mean winter. 至 (Zhi) means extreme, or arrival.

冬至 (Dōng Zhì) literally means the “extreme of winter.”

Dōng Zhì is also known as Winter Festival – 冬節(Dōng Jié) for Chinese. Dong Zhi marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The winter cold days start on this day according to the Chinese calendar. This is also the day that your shadow measures the longest under the sun. 冬至 Dong Zhi Festival always falls on or around December 22.  This year is on December 22.

In ancient China, Chinese winter solstice, Dōng Zhì used to be the first day of the first month on the calendar, the New Year’s day. Even though it was changed by Emperor Qin (秦始皇), people still keep the tradition. Therefore, Dong Zhi Festival is also known as “the little New Year’s day” 過小年.

Happy Dongzhi Festival!