16) Winter is the beginning of all season
Today, is one of the twenty-four solar terms of the Chinese calender the “Winter Solstice“. The winter solstice is the beginning of the twenty-four solar terms in ancient times. In Chinese belife, the Winter Solstice is greater than the Chinese Lunar New Year.
今天是”冬至”，华人二十四节气中之一。在古时候冬至是二十四节气的起点，所以有冬大过年的说法。
The arrival of the winter solstice, is floating in the festive atmosphere. You will see everyone gathering together for celebration. It’s just like the western Christmas seasons, one celebrating with turkey, another with rice ball dumpling.
冬至的到来，充满着浓浓的节日气氛，你会看到大家聚在一起大肆庆祝一番。这好比西方的耶旦节，吃的是火鸡，华人吃的则是“汤圆”。
Rice ball dumpling, in additional to its shape of delegative round, it is wrapped with flour and stuffed with knead, lotus seed paste, peanuts, sesame etc. The lightly sweet taste filled and warm the stomach in the winter.
汤圆，它的外形除了代表团团圆圆外，以面粉搓成包住的不同的内馅，有莲蓉，花生等等，吃起来让人感觉甜甜蜜蜜。
This warm in the winter, fullfilled my stomach and warm my heart just like rejoicing the human race and traditional close relationship. Just like the tree roots wrapped around the earth, it is the image of the extension to the traditional practices of intergenerational, how appropriate!
这种温暖在冬季，吃在口里，暖在心里，代表人情与传统有密不可分的关系。那天，偶然拍下树根的照片。如果把树根缠土的精神，延伸到传统习俗对世代相传的贡献，不是再贴切不过吗？
Today, is not end of the world, is just the beginning of all seasons. Let’s have the rice dumplings as wine and toast to our heart content, I wish all of you a wonderful festives, happy and healthy life all year round!
今天，不是世界末日，是新的一年的开始。在此，我借汤圆当酒，祝大家圆圆满满，幸福安康！
AddGrainOnEarth 
December 22, 2012 at 1:38 am
Happy Solstice to you my friend. Those dumplings sound delicious! 🙂
December 22, 2012 at 1:46 am
Sorry, I just gobble up! It’s really delicious! What happen to your new image? You smoke cigar lately?
December 22, 2012 at 1:52 am
Something like that! 😯
December 22, 2012 at 1:38 am
Happy Winter Solstice! Those dumplings look good!!
December 22, 2012 at 1:47 am
One for you and one for me! Cheers!
December 22, 2012 at 1:59 am
LG. Wolfgang
December 22, 2012 at 11:22 am
Thanks, wolfgang!
December 22, 2012 at 2:21 am
Happy beginnings to you as the wonderful celebrations bring in the sweet sounds of bells chiming and singing throughout our earth. May your dumplings fill your stomach with much health, love and peace in 2013 and beyond.
I’m so glad I found your blog this year – many of your postings fill the soul. Bless your heart and good cheer my friend. Mary
December 22, 2012 at 11:20 am
You are such a nice and generous woman, I am sure with that good points in you, you’ll be blessed and protected by angel.
If they don’t, let me know! I’ll email them! Cheers!
December 22, 2012 at 2:52 am
Great Post Sydney. I learn stuff everyday. Happy Holidays. Barbeyaki
December 22, 2012 at 11:08 am
Hey! You are welcome! I like your fruit cake post! You are great too! Let’s enjoy the Blogging fun!
December 22, 2012 at 6:38 am
Hi
I am giving presents of STARS while I celebrate my Christmas I have one here for you and your blog too!
http://nutsfortreasure.wordpress.com/2012/12/21/merry-christmas-its-award-time-lol-too-grab-your-star/
Eunice
December 22, 2012 at 11:02 am
Okay! Thanks and Merry Christmas to you!
December 22, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Thanks and you are welcome!
December 23, 2012 at 12:49 am
Those dumplings look fantastic! The German’s make good dumplings from potatoes… As you can see, I just generally love food. LOL Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays!
December 23, 2012 at 1:04 am
Thanks, is my honor to offer this to my Blogger friend like you! I hope you enjoy my post! 🙂
December 23, 2012 at 5:04 pm
It’s the beginning indeed! Happy Holidays 🙂
December 23, 2012 at 6:11 pm
You too! evilnymphstuff, I wish you become a world famous writer! Cheers!
December 24, 2012 at 8:41 am
I haven’t had any 汤圆 yet! Going to make some tomorrow, Xmas 汤圆! hahaha.
December 24, 2012 at 8:45 am
Hmm, creative! And if you can’t finish , hang it on your Christmas tree! 🙂