The traditional Chinese lunar calendar divides the year into 24 solar terms. Winter Solstice, the 22nd solar term of the year, begins this year on Dec 22 and ends on Jan 5.

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。

On the first day of Winter Solstice, the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day and the longest night in the year, as the sun shines directly at the Tropic of Capricorn. From then on, the days become longer and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year.

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。

Here are nine things you should know about Winter Solstice.

一起来了解一下关于冬至的9个小常识。

The Winter Solstice Festival冬至大如年

There was a saying in ancient China, "The Winter Solstice is as significant as the Spring Festival."

中国有句古话叫：“冬至大如年。”

As early as the Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256 BC), people worshipped the gods on the first day of the Winter Solstice, which also was the first day of the new year. The Winter Solstice became a winter festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220). The celebratory activities were officially organized. On this day, both officials and common people would have a rest.

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。

During subsequent dynasties, such as the Tang (618-907), Song (960-1279) and Qing dynasties (1644-1911), the Winter Solstice was a day to offer sacrifices to Heaven and to ancestors.

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。

Eating nuts吃坚果

When midwinter arrives, vital movement begins to decline and calm down. In this period, eating an appropriate amount of nuts, such as peanuts, walnuts, chestnuts, hazelnuts and almonds, is good for one's body. Traditional Chinese medical science teaches that the quality of a nut is tepidity and most nuts have the function of nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the brain and heart.

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。

Eating dumplings吃饺子

During Winter Solstice in North China, eating dumplings is essential to the festival. There is a saying that goes "Have dumplings on the first day of Winter Solstice and noodles on the first day of Summer Solstice."

在北方，冬至一定要吃饺子。俗语有云“冬至饺子夏至面”。

Eating wontons吃馄饨

People in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, are accustomed to eating wontons in midwinter. According to legend, during the midwinter feast 2,500 years ago, the King of Wu (one of the states during the Western Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn Period) was disgusted with all kinds of costly foods and wanted to eat something different. Then, the beauty Xishi came into the kitchen to make "wontons" to honor the king's wish. He ate a lot and liked the food very much. To commemorate Xishi, the people of Suzhou made wontons the official food to celebrate the festival.

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。

Eating tangyuan吃汤圆

In places such as Shanghai, people eat tangyuan, a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour, to celebrate Winter Solstice.

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。

Eating mutton and vermicelli soup吃羊肉粉丝汤

In Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui autonomous region, people call midwinter the "Ghost Festival". On that day, it is customary for people there to drink mutton and vermicelli soup and eat the dumplings in the soup. They give the midwinter soup a strange name - "brain" - and share it with their neighbors.

在宁夏银川，人们将冬至称为“鬼节”。在这一天，人们习惯吃羊肉粉丝汤和汤饺。他们给冬至的汤起了一个奇怪的名字叫“头脑”，而且还会和邻居们一起分享。

Eating rice cakes吃年糕

During the Winter Solstice, Hangzhou residents traditionally eat rice cakes. In the past, before the approach of the winter solstice, every household would make the cakes to worship their ancestors or use as gifts for relatives and friends. Today, though fewer families eat homemade cakes, people there still buy rice cakes for the Winter Solstice Festival.

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。

Offering nine-layer cakes to ancestors用九层糕祭祖

Taiwan residents keep the custom of offering nine-layer cakes to their ancestors. People with the same surname or family clan gather at their ancestral temples to worship their ancestors in order of their ages. After the sacrificial ceremony, there is always a grand banquet.

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。

Eating red-bean and glutinous rice吃红豆糯米饭

In some regions south of the Yangtze River on the first day of Winter Solstice, the whole family gets together to have a meal made of red bean and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and other evil things.

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。