中国阴历将一年分为24个节气，冬至排在22位，它从每年的12月22日开始到来年的1月6日结束。过了冬至后，白昼越来越长黑夜越来越短。古人对冬至的说法是：阴极之至，阳气始生，日南至，日短之至，日影长之至，故曰“冬至”。
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 6.
From Dec 22, the days become longer and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice is also the arrival of the coldest season in the year. Here are nine things you should know about Winter Solstice.
关于冬至，还有你不得不知的九件事，快来看看吧！
Eating dumplings 吃饺子
中国北方的在冬至的时候有着吃饺子的习俗。俗话说：冬至饺子夏至面。冬至吃饺子不冻耳朵。
During Winter Solstice in North China, eating dumplings is essential to the festival. There is a old saying goes "Have dumplings on the first day of Winter Solstice and noodles on the first day of Summer Solstice."
Eating tangyuan 吃汤圆
在上海，浙江一带，冬至有着吃汤圆的习惯。热乎乎的糯米包裹着甜甜的馅料，大冷天来上一碗再好不过了。
In places such as Shanghai, people eat tangyuan, a kind of stuffed small dumpling ball made of glutinous rice flour to celebrate Winter Solstice.
Eating wontons 吃馄饨
江苏有着冬至吃馄饨的习惯。据说是为了纪念西施，人们包馄饨来庆祝冬至的来到。
People in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, are accustomed to eating wontons in midwinter. To commemorate Xishi, the people of Suzhou made wontons the official food to celebrate the festival.
Eating mutton and vermicelli soup吃羊肉粉汤
在宁夏地区，老百姓们管冬至叫"鬼节"。他们的习俗是吃羊肉粉汤饺子，此外他们还给这道美味起了个古怪的名字"头脑"。粉汤饺子做好后先盛一碗供起来，还要给近邻端上一碗。
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 soup a strange name: "brain" and share it with their neighbors.
Eating red-bean and glutinous rice 吃红豆糯米饭
在我国的江南水乡，在冬至之夜有全家欢聚一堂共吃赤豆糯米饭的习俗。
相传，共工氏有不才子，作恶多端，死于冬至这一天，死后变成疫鬼，继续残害百姓。不过，这个疫鬼最怕红豆，于是，人们就在冬至这一天煮吃红豆糯米饭来驱避疫鬼，防灾祛病。
In some regions south of the Yangtze River, the whole family gets together to have a meal made of red-bean and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and other evil things.
Eating rice cakes 吃年糕
杭州居民有着冬至吃年糕的传统。过去每家每户都会在冬至到来前制作年糕来供奉先人或者馈赠给亲戚朋友。
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.
Offering nine-layer cakes to ancestors 用九层糕祭祖
在台湾还保存着冬至用九层糕祭祖的传统，用糯米粉捏成鸡、鸭、龟、猪、牛、羊等象征吉祥中意福禄寿的动物，然后用蒸笼分层蒸成，用以祭祖，以示不忘老祖宗。
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.
Eating nuts 吃坚果
从养生学来讲，冬至是养生的大好时机，大家可以多吃坚果养生御寒。中医认为坚果性味偏温热，在其他季节吃容易上火，而冬天天气较冷，很多人吃后不存在这个问题。冬季吃坚果还可补肾健脑、强心健体。当然吃坚果也要适量，且因人而异。
When midwinter comes, 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.
The Winter Solstice Festival 冬至大如年
在我国古代对冬至很重视，冬至被当作一个较大节日，曾有"冬至大如年"的说法，而且有庆贺冬至的习俗。在周朝，冬至是新年的第一天。到了汉朝冬至渐渐成为了冬天的一个节日，人们张灯结彩庆祝冬至来到。
冬至兴于唐宋，直至明清。举国上下要放假休息，军队待命，边塞闭关，商旅停业，亲朋各以美食相赠，相互拜访，欢乐地过一个“安身静体”的节日。
As early as Zhou Dynasty (c.11th century-256BC), people worshipped the gods on the first day of the Winter Solstice, which was also the first day of the new year. The Winter Solstice became a winter festival during the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220AD). The celebratory activities were officially organized.
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. On this day, both officials and common people would have a rest.
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