• 冬至：Winter Solstice

“solstice”这个词我们不太看到，因为它的意思很特别，表示“the time of either the longest day in the year (about June 22) or the shortest day in the year (about December 22)”。这么看来，这个词的用武之地似乎局限性很大了。基本上也就用在“Winter Solstice”(冬至)以及“Summer Solstice”(夏至)之处。

• 冬至这天有啥传统习俗?

Winter Solstice is a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.

冬至是家族团聚的一天。在这天，中国南方的家庭会包汤圆、吃汤圆，以象征团圆的意思。不过在中国北方，似乎更多的人会吃饺子。比如说会有“冬至到，吃水饺”这样的谚语。

• 中国人为什么比较重视冬至?

其实，但从中国文化方面讲，“冬至”这个日子还可以翻译成“Dongzhi Festival”，中国人为什么都比较重视这个节气呢?

The origins of this festival can be traced back to the yin and yang philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos. After this celebration, there will be days with longer daylight hours and therefore an increase in positive energy flowing in.

原来还是和“阴阳”相关啊。人们认为，过了这一天，白昼一天比一天长了，是一个节气循环的开始，“阳”气逐渐回升，因此也算是个吉利的日子啦。