Winter
Solstice 2007 23 December 2007
As the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 270° at winter solstice, the occasion marks the shortest day and longest night in a year. In other words, on the day the backward force yin is at its peak, thus the solar term is given the Chinese name 冬至, meaning the extremity (极致) of the winter season. From that moment on, the worst is over as yin is in the decline while yang returns with light and warmth, as it is observed in The Book of Han (《汉书》) by Ban Gu of Eastern Han Dynasty (东汉班固: 32-92 ): “冬至阳气起，君道长，故贺。” When this natural trend is applied to the social situations, winter solstice is traditionally viewed as a time to bring order to chaose and build harmony from conflict. Historically, at this seasonal turning point, Chinese emperor would lead his court officials to pay tribute to Heaven and ancestors. The ritualistic processions were escorted by armed troops and honour guards stationed around, with colourful silk banners fluttering in the winds, and the sound of gongs and drums solemnly proclaiming the arrival of the yang force. In the heyday of the winter solstice celebration during the most interllectually advanced era in Chinese histry, the brillient Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), a three-day holiday was officially declared. By then the daily court meetings were suspended, official businesses were put on hold, shops stopped trading, students enjoyed a vacation, while literature-wise folks sent congratulation cards (贺片) to each other, and literature-wise and unwise folks all gave away cold protection tools as gifts to relatives, friends and associates. The weather condition on the day of winter solstice was and has still been used by many as a convenient way to forcast the states of the coming winter season. It is believed that if a winter solstice falls at the beginning of the eleventh lunar month, the cold season would be very cold to the point that it could freeze cows to death; and worse still, if it falls in the end of the lunar month, even ghosts won't be able to survive the assault of the icy spell. On the other hand, if it occurs in the middle of the lunar Nobember, a warm winter can be expected (冬在头冻死牛，冬在中暖烘烘，冬在尾冻死鬼). When the weather condition of Chinese New Year Day is concerned, it allegedly works like this: a raining winter solstice day brings a sunny new year day, and vice versa (晴冬至，烂过年；烂冬至，晴过年). As yesterday many areas in China, such as Suzhou, were reportedly wet, wet and very wet, so the mood in those regions is said to be buoyant, buoyant and very buoyant. From the celestial circumstance of the day, the fortune of the coming year can also be predicted, as some guys like to have you to believe. If there are splendid sunrise glows and/or sunset clouds, for instance, a lucky year is supposedly assured. Mind you, according to this theory, 2008 shall be a fantastic year for Sydney. But then, it is actually the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, so, the kangaroos may need not to hold the breath too hard. As always, the special food is the undispensible part of any Chinese festivity. At winter solstice, it is huntun and dumplin soups rule the day in the northern and southern China respectively. Pre: See the World by
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The 24 solar terms in Chinese calendar is determined by,
not a human ruler's will, but the pulse of Mother Nature,
the change of season. Of the 24, winter solstice, the
22nd on the roll, is evidently the first solar term to be
established during the Spring and Autumn period about
2,500 years ago. It has been celebrated as a major
seasonal festival ever since, for this it is also called
Witner Festival (冬节) and the Second New Year (亚岁). 