冬至，最重要的節(jié)氣之一，也是中華民族的一個傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日。早在春秋時期，我國就已經測定了冬至，它是二十四節(jié)氣中最早制定出來的一個，時間在每年的陽歷12月21日與12月23日之間。冬至這天，太陽直射地面的位置到達一年的最南端，直射點在南回歸線上，北半球白天最短，黑夜最長。

The Winter Solstice, or Dongzhi in Chinese, is one of the most important solar terms, and it is also a traditional Chinese festival. During as early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Chinese determined the date of Dongzhi, the first nailed down of the 24 solar terms. Dongzhi comes between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar. On the day, the position where the sun shines directly reaches the southernmost of the earth, that is, the Tropic of Cancer, thus, the longest day time and the shortest night time in the northern hemisphere.

“十一月中，終藏之氣，至此而極也”。至，極致，冬至，冬藏之氣至此而極。但此時不是最冷，冬至后的一個月左右，才是一年中最冷的時候。

"In the middle of lunar November, winter energy is in full swing". Zhi in Chinese means extreme. So, Dongzhi means the winter reaches its extremeness. It is, however, not the coldest time of the year while the month after Dongzhi will be the coldest time.

冬至有三候。一候蚯蚓結，蚯蚓對溫度變化十分敏感，此時陽氣雖已生發(fā)，但陰氣仍然十分強盛，土中的蚯蚓仍然蜷縮著身體，故為蚯蚓結。二候麋角解，冬至節(jié)氣，麋鹿感受到陽氣發(fā)生，頭上的角便開始脫落。三候水泉動，地下的水感受到陽氣回升，山中的泉水已經開始慢慢流動了。

There are three pentads in Dongzhi. During the first, earthworms knot. Earthworms are very sensitive to temperatures. At this time, while Yang Qi begins to come up Yin Qi still dominates. So, earthworms in the soil curl up like knots. During the second, elk horns fall off. Belonging to a Yin beast, elk can feel the coming Yang Qi, and the horns begin to fall off. And during the third, spring water flows. Underground water feels the Yang Qi rising and begins to flow gradually.

我國古代，有“冬至大如年”的說法。歷朝歷代都有慶賀冬至的習俗。這一天，帝王要舉行祭天大禮。北京南郊的天壇就是明清皇帝祭天的地方。

In ancient China, Dongzhi was as important a festival as Spring Festival. Almost every ancient dynasty had the custom of celebrating it. The emperor would hold a grand ceremony to worship Heaven. The Temple of Heaven in the southern suburb of Beijing is the place where the Emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties worshiped Heaven .

從冬至起，人們便開始“數(shù)九”，每九九天，共八十一天。元代詩人楊允孚的一首詩，栩栩如生地描繪了古人數(shù)九的畫面?！霸嚁?shù)窗間九九圖，余寒消盡暖回初。梅花點遍無余白，看到今朝是杏株?！痹诠糯?，一些風雅之士或大家閨秀繪繪梅數(shù)九，他們以九朵八十一瓣的梅花代表八十一天，日染一瓣，待到把八十一瓣都染成紅色，溫暖的春天也就到來了。

From Dongzhi, people begin to "Shu Jiu". Shu means count and Jiu means nine days. One Jiu contains nine days. Jiujiu means 81 days. A poet by Yang Yunfu in Yuan Dynasty vividly pictured the scene of “Shu Jiu”. "Staring at the Jiujiu painting on the window, I’m eager to paint the remaining pedals. When all the white wintersweet pedals are painted red, the tree will blossom like an apricot tree". In ancient times, some elegant ladies or gentlemen would draw wintersweet followers to Shujiu. Nine wintersweet flowers, with each one containing nine white pedals, represented 81 days. One petal was painted each day. When the 81 petals were all painted red the warm spring would be coming.

冬至時節(jié)，北方吃餃子，南方吃湯圓。古詩有云“家家搗米做湯圓，知是明朝冬至天”。冬至吃湯圓的習俗在江南一帶尤為盛行。江南百姓在冬至前常用糯米粉包上精肉，豆沙，蘿卜絲等餡料，制成湯圓?！皥A”有團圓圓滿之意，以此寄寓來年闔家團圓，幸福美滿。

During Dongzhi, Jiaozi is eaten in the north while Tangyuan in the south. An ancient poem says, "Seeing every family making Tangyuan, I know tomorrow is Dongzhi". The custom of eating Tangyuan on Dongzhi is particularly popular in Jiangnan Region. Before Dongzhi, people will fill glutinous rice dough with fillings such as pork, bean paste and shredded radish to make Tangyuan. "Yuan" means reunion and perfection, with which to pray for family reunion and happiness in the coming year.

俗話說“冬至到，羊肉俏”。冬至后，將迎來最寒冷的天氣。此時人體內陽氣蓬勃生發(fā)，最易吸收營養(yǎng)，是進補是最好時間。冬天吃羊肉既能抵御風寒，又可以滋補身體，

冬至過后，白晝一天天長起來，黑夜一天天短下去，只有走過冬的嚴寒，才能體會春意盎然。

As the saying goes, "Mutton is popular when Dongzhi comes". Dongzhi ushers in the coldest weather. At this time, the Yang Qi in our body begins to thrive and it is easy to absorb nutrients. So, Dongzhi is the best time to do tonifying. Mutton has the property of Yang and eating mutton in winter can not only resist cold, but also nourish the body,

After the winter solstice, the day time becomes longer and the night time gets shorter. Only by experiencing the severe cold of the winter can we cherish the warmth of the spring.