Happy Winter Solstice Festival 22.12.2007
Its that time of the year again, no, I am not talking about Christmas but rather the Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, this year falling on the 22.12.2007, as usual, a few days shy of Christmas.
Supposedly, in ancient China, if one survives until the Winter Solstice Festival ( some call it dumpling festival, which could be confused with the Dragon Boat Festival ), which signifies that the harshest part of winter has passed, one would be able to live another year as spring would be just around the corner. Hence, the tradition of eating 'tang yuen' or glutinous rice balls soaked in syrup spiced with some ginger.
The festival is also known as "Lesser Chinese New Year" and everyone is deemed a year older after partaking in the 'tang yuen'. Well personally I enjoy 'tang yuen' filled with brown sugar and boiled in ginger syrup. Here's to another year ahead.