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Dumplings and devotions on shortest day
Source: Xinhua |
December 23, 2010, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
SOME gulped down bowls of dumplings or glutinous rice balls, while others burned incense and paper money to worship their ancestors, as people across China yesterday celebrated the Winter Solstice.
The solstice marks the time when places in the Northern Hemisphere have the shortest day in the year. Chinese celebrate the day, whose Mandarin name, dongzhi, means prime winter, as a custom to usher in the coldest days of the year.
Most parts of northern and central China were hit by a cold snap yesterday, with temperatures dropping by 6 to 16 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center reported. The temperature in the northeastern Jilin Province was expected to plunge to minus 34 degrees.
In neighboring Heilongjiang Province, a bus skidded off an icy road killing five of the 44 people on board, police said, adding sorrow to the otherwise merry-making festival observed by people in northern China.
In some eastern and southern parts of the country, however, the day was observed in solemn mood.
Residents in Anhui and Hainan provinces, for example, kept the tradition of paying tribute to deceased family members at their tombs.
Incense, paper money and other offerings were burned to worship the dead.
The firefighting authority in Hainan even issued a warning, reminding people to put out flames before they left the cemeteries.
"Burning offerings at the tombs symbolizes sending additional clothes and food to the spirits of the dead for them to stay warm during the coldest days," said Zheng Tuyou, deputy head of the Chinese Association of Folk Custom.
But that is a custom normally only seen in the southern parts of the country, Zheng added.
In most parts of northern China, housewives lined up in supermarkets and food stalls to buy dumplings beginning at daybreak. Also, young office workers who could not make it home for the family dinner headed to restaurants that sell dumplings.
"There is a saying that 'if you don't eat dumplings, ears will get frozen in the coming coldest days,'" said Zhang Xiao, who had just bought a bag of dumplings from a Beijing supermarket.
A saleswoman surnamed Wang said the Winter Solstice is usually considered the start of the winter festival season in China, which also includes Christmas, New Year's Day, the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival.
"Frozen goods are on hot sale. Business is always good during this festival season," she said.
The festive mood seems more evident this year as businesses in many Chinese cities got into the Christmas spirit earlier than before.
Malls, restaurants and bars in Beijing and Shanghai put up Christmas decorations as early as late November. Carols have been playing at some restaurants all day.
In Xi'an, the ancient city where the 1,000-year-old terra-cotta warriors were discovered, community workers hung Santa hats on trees along a major shopping street. They also promised to dole out presents on Christmas Eve.
Giant Santas are seen in front of restaurants in major cities across the country, promoting luxurious dinners for Christmas Eve. A fancy Christmas Eve dinner, which comes with music, art performances and raffle games, is priced at 988 yuan (US$150) per head in upscale Shanghai restaurants.
But instead of roast turkey and lamb, a growing number of restaurants are offering traditional Chinese cuisine.
"I plan to eat spicy Sichuan-style food on Christmas with friends," said Yu Lin, a young office worker in Shanghai. "What matters is not what you eat but who you eat with. Christmas is a time meant to be spent with family and friends."
Christmas has become increasingly popular among Chinese in recent years, but mostly as an occasion for shopping sprees and fun. The government does not make Christmas a national holiday, nor the Winter Solstice.
Many Chinese Christians, however, said they would celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the traditional way - by going to church and praying.
The solstice marks the time when places in the Northern Hemisphere have the shortest day in the year. Chinese celebrate the day, whose Mandarin name, dongzhi, means prime winter, as a custom to usher in the coldest days of the year.
Most parts of northern and central China were hit by a cold snap yesterday, with temperatures dropping by 6 to 16 degrees Celsius, the National Meteorological Center reported. The temperature in the northeastern Jilin Province was expected to plunge to minus 34 degrees.
In neighboring Heilongjiang Province, a bus skidded off an icy road killing five of the 44 people on board, police said, adding sorrow to the otherwise merry-making festival observed by people in northern China.
In some eastern and southern parts of the country, however, the day was observed in solemn mood.
Residents in Anhui and Hainan provinces, for example, kept the tradition of paying tribute to deceased family members at their tombs.
Incense, paper money and other offerings were burned to worship the dead.
The firefighting authority in Hainan even issued a warning, reminding people to put out flames before they left the cemeteries.
"Burning offerings at the tombs symbolizes sending additional clothes and food to the spirits of the dead for them to stay warm during the coldest days," said Zheng Tuyou, deputy head of the Chinese Association of Folk Custom.
But that is a custom normally only seen in the southern parts of the country, Zheng added.
In most parts of northern China, housewives lined up in supermarkets and food stalls to buy dumplings beginning at daybreak. Also, young office workers who could not make it home for the family dinner headed to restaurants that sell dumplings.
"There is a saying that 'if you don't eat dumplings, ears will get frozen in the coming coldest days,'" said Zhang Xiao, who had just bought a bag of dumplings from a Beijing supermarket.
A saleswoman surnamed Wang said the Winter Solstice is usually considered the start of the winter festival season in China, which also includes Christmas, New Year's Day, the Spring Festival and the Lantern Festival.
"Frozen goods are on hot sale. Business is always good during this festival season," she said.
The festive mood seems more evident this year as businesses in many Chinese cities got into the Christmas spirit earlier than before.
Malls, restaurants and bars in Beijing and Shanghai put up Christmas decorations as early as late November. Carols have been playing at some restaurants all day.
In Xi'an, the ancient city where the 1,000-year-old terra-cotta warriors were discovered, community workers hung Santa hats on trees along a major shopping street. They also promised to dole out presents on Christmas Eve.
Giant Santas are seen in front of restaurants in major cities across the country, promoting luxurious dinners for Christmas Eve. A fancy Christmas Eve dinner, which comes with music, art performances and raffle games, is priced at 988 yuan (US$150) per head in upscale Shanghai restaurants.
But instead of roast turkey and lamb, a growing number of restaurants are offering traditional Chinese cuisine.
"I plan to eat spicy Sichuan-style food on Christmas with friends," said Yu Lin, a young office worker in Shanghai. "What matters is not what you eat but who you eat with. Christmas is a time meant to be spent with family and friends."
Christmas has become increasingly popular among Chinese in recent years, but mostly as an occasion for shopping sprees and fun. The government does not make Christmas a national holiday, nor the Winter Solstice.
Many Chinese Christians, however, said they would celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the traditional way - by going to church and praying.
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