DONG ZHI & TANGYUAN
Posted by denise ng y.b | Posted on 10:52:00 PM
I seriously am craving for tangyuan now. Really really want that. ;'(
A little of bit of Tangyuán history.
Historically, a number of different names were used to refer to the tangyuan. During the Yongle era of the Ming Dynasty, the name was then officially called as yuanxiao, a name derived from the Yuanxiao festival, also known as the Lantern Festival. This name literally means “first evening”, being the first full moon or new moon after Chinese New Year. This name prevails in northern China.
In southern China, however, the prevailing names are tangyuan or tangtuan. Legend has it that during Yuan Shikai’s rule (1912-1916), Yuan disliked the name Yuanxiao because it sounded identical to “remove Yuan”, and so mandated that the name Tangyuan be used instead. This name literally means “round balls in soup”. Tangtuan similarly means “round dumplings in soup”.
The Meaning of Dong Zhì
Dong Zhì Dong means “winter” and Zhi means “arrival.” In olden Chinese society, the arrival of winter meant that the farmers would lay down their tools and celebrate the harvest by coming home to their families. A feast would be prepared to mark the occasion.
These days, Dong Zhì is still an important cultural holiday for Chinese all over the world. Even though it is not a formal holiday or sort, most Chinese families who still hold dear to the old culture and traditions, would try to make an effort toget together and savor tang yuán as a complete family.
Celebrated on the longest night of the year, Dong Zhi is the day when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest. The coming of winter is celebrated by families and is traditionally the time when farmers and fishermen gather food in preparation for the coming cold season. It is also a time for family reunions.
This celebration can be traced to the Chinese belief in yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony in life. It is believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful at this time, but it is also the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang. For this reason, the Dong Zhi Festival is a time for optimism. Dong Zhi is celebrated in style. The longest night of the year is a time to put on brand new clothes, visit family with gifts and to laugh and drink deep into the long night.
In Chinese believes, it is also the day when everyone becomes one year older.
The Chinese Calendar
The traditional Chinese calendar is divided into 24 equal divisions each corresponding to 15 degrees of Celestial longitude.
The sun reaches 270 degrees sometime around December 21, the date set on most Western calendars as the winter solstice. Dong Zhì, however, can fall on December 21, 22, or 23. In 2008, C falls on December 21.
How to confirm the date will fall into the above date? we’ve heard the culculation from radio FM988. here goes:
If this year is 2008 and divided by 4 = 502 (even).Whenever you get an even number from the result, Dong Zhì must have to fall on Odd dates like 21 or 23 of Dec. When the results are odd numbers, then Dong Zhì will fall on Even date. Another way to confirm the date of Dong Zhì is to refer the the Chinese Thong Su. Which is the manual for all Chinese cultural believes. This book is updated yearly.
Bahhhh..
Anyway.
Look At This!!!
Oh. My. God.
OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG!!!
I REALLY WANT THAT!!!
LIKE NOW!!!!!
*DROOLSDROOLSDROOLSANDDROOLS!!*
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