Both the beginning of winter and Winter Solstice are days when people traditionally eat dumplings. In the northern part of China, dumplings are an important festival food. The beginning of winter and Winter Solstice are both significant festivals among the 24 solar terms, and people eat dumplings on these two days to celebrate.
The beginning of winter marks the start of winter. In the north, people believe that the custom of eating dumplings on this day can ward off the cold and keep them warm, welcoming the arrival of winter. Winter Solstice is the 22nd solar term and the fourth solar term of winter. It falls on December 21st or 22nd of each year in the Gregorian calendar.
In Chinese traditional culture, Winter Solstice is an important festival, during which people hold sacrificial rites to pray for a bountiful harvest and peace in the coming year. It is also a day for family reunions, when people gather to enjoy traditional delicacies like dumplings and tangyuan, feeling the warmth of family ties. Eating dumplings on both the beginning of winter and Winter Solstice is one of the important festival customs in northern China.
