ThetraditionalChineselunarcalendardividestheyearinto24solarterms.WinterSolstice,the22ndsolartermoftheyear,beginsthisyearonDec22andendsonJan5.
中国传统二十四节气的第22个节气是冬至，今年的冬至从12月22日开始，1月5日结束。
OnthefirstdayofWinterSolstice,theNorthernHemisphereexperiencestheshortestdayandthelongestnightintheyear,asthesunshinesdirectlyattheTropicofCapricorn.Fromthenon,thedaysbecomelongerandthenightsbecomeshorter.TheWinterSolsticealsomarksthearrivalofthecoldestseasonintheyear.
冬至节气的第一天，由于太阳直射南回归线，北半球白昼最短，黑夜最长。冬至过后，白昼变长，黑夜变短。冬至也意味着一年最冷的时节来临。
HereareninethingsyoushouldknowaboutWinterSolstice.
一起来了解一下关于冬至的9个小常识。
[Photo/VCG]
TheWinterSolsticeFestival
冬至大如年
TherewasasayinginancientChina,"TheWinterSolsticeisassignificantastheSpringFestival."
中国有句古话叫：“冬至大如年。”
AsearlyastheZhouDynasty(c.11thcentury-256BC),peopleworshippedthegodsonthefirstdayoftheWinterSolstice,whichalsowasthefirstdayofthenewyear.TheWinterSolsticebecameawinterfestivalduringtheHanDynasty(206BC-AD220).Thecelebratoryactivitieswereofficiallyorganized.Onthisday,bothofficialsandcommonpeoplewouldhavearest.
早在周朝时期（公元前约11世纪-公元前256年），人们就在冬至这天祭拜神灵，冬至还是新年的第一天。冬至在汉朝（公元前206年-公元220年）成为一个冬季节日，在这天会举行正式的庆祝活动，官员和百姓均可休息。
Duringsubsequentdynasties,suchastheTang(618-907),Song(960-1279)andQingdynasties(1644-1911),theWinterSolsticewasadaytooffersacrificestoHeavenandtoancestors.
在后来的朝代，比如唐朝（公元618年-907年）、宋朝（公元960年-1279年）和清朝（公元1644年-1911年），冬至成为祭天祭祖的节日。
Eatingnuts
吃坚果
Whenmidwinterarrives,vitalmovementbeginstodeclineandcalmdown.Inthisperiod,eatinganappropriateamountofnuts,suchaspeanuts,walnuts,chestnuts,hazelnutsandalmonds,isgoodforone'sbody.TraditionalChinesemedicalscienceteachesthatthequalityofanutistepidityandmostnutshavethefunctionofnourishingthekidneysandstrengtheningthebrainandheart.
当冬至来临，生命活动会开始减少并平寂下来。这时候吃适量的坚果，比如花生、核桃、栗子、榛子、杏仁，对人的身体很有好处。中医传统理论认为，坚果性温，大部分坚果都有滋养肾脏、强脑强心的功效。
Eatingdumplings
吃饺子
DuringWinterSolsticeinNorthChina,eatingdumplingsisessentialtothefestival.Thereisasayingthatgoes"HavedumplingsonthefirstdayofWinterSolsticeandnoodlesonthefirstdayofSummerSolstice."
在北方，冬至一定要吃饺子。俗语有云“冬至饺子夏至面”。
Eatingwontons
吃馄饨
PeopleinSuzhou,Jiangsuprovince,areaccustomedtoeatingwontonsinmidwinter.Accordingtolegend,duringthemidwinterfeast2,500yearsago,theKingofWu(oneofthestatesduringtheWesternZhouDynastyandtheSpringandAutumnPeriod)wasdisgustedwithallkindsofcostlyfoodsandwantedtoeatsomethingdifferent.Then,thebeautyXishicameintothekitchentomake"wontons"tohonortheking'swish.Heatealotandlikedthefoodverymuch.TocommemorateXishi,thepeopleofSuzhoumadewontonstheofficialfoodtocelebratethefestival.
苏州人有在冬至这天吃馄饨的习俗。据传，在2500年前的冬至宴席上，吴王（吴国是西周和春秋时期的一个国家）厌倦了各种名贵的食物，想要吃一些特别的东西。美女西施下厨给他做了一碗“馄饨”，满足了他的愿望。吴王吃了很多，他非常喜欢这种食物。为了纪念西施，苏州人把馄饨作为庆祝冬至节的官方食物。
Eatingtangyuan
吃汤圆
InplacessuchasShanghai,peopleeattangyuan,akindofstuffedsmalldumplingballmadeofglutinousriceflour,tocelebrateWinterSolstice.
上海等地的人们吃汤圆来庆祝冬至的到来。汤圆是用糯米粉制成的一种有馅儿的小团子。
Eatingmuttonandvermicellisoup
InYinchuan,NingxiaHuiautonomousregion,peoplecallmidwinterthe"GhostFestival".Onthatday,itiscustomaryforpeopletheretodrinkmuttonandvermicellisoupandeatthedumplingsinthesoup.Theygivethemidwintersoupastrangename-"brain"-andshareitwiththeirneighbors.
Eatingricecakes
吃年糕
DuringtheWinterSolstice,Hangzhouresidentstraditionallyeatricecakes.Inthepast,beforetheapproachofthewintersolstice,everyhouseholdwouldmakethecakestoworshiptheirancestorsoruseasgiftsforrelativesandfriends.Today,thoughfewerfamilieseathomemadecakes,peopletherestillbuyricecakesfortheWinterSolsticeFestival.
杭州人有冬至吃年糕的传统。过去，每逢冬至，家家户户都会做年糕来祭祖或馈赠亲友。现在吃自制年糕的家庭没那么多了，但杭州人仍然会在冬至买年糕吃。
[Photo/Weibo]
Offeringnine-layercakestoancestors
用九层糕祭祖
Taiwanresidentskeepthecustomofofferingnine-layercakestotheirancestors.Peoplewiththesamesurnameorfamilyclangatherattheirancestraltemplestoworshiptheirancestorsinorderoftheirages.Afterthesacrificialceremony,thereisalwaysagrandbanquet.
台湾人保留了用九层糕祭祖的习俗。同宗同族的人们齐聚在先祖祠堂，按年龄顺序祭拜祖先。祭拜仪式结束后，往往会举行盛大的宴会。
Eatingred-beanandglutinousrice
吃红豆糯米饭
InsomeregionssouthoftheYangtzeRiveronthefirstdayofWinterSolstice,thewholefamilygetstogethertohaveamealmadeofredbeanandglutinousricetodriveawayghostsandotherevilthings.
在长江以南部分地区，人们会在冬至这天全家聚在一起享用一顿红豆糯米饭，目的是驱赶鬼魂和其他邪物。