NARRATOR: The Winter Solstice Festival
is one of the most significant festivals
in several East Asian countries celebrated in the 11th lunar
month.
This festival represents balance and harmony,
and the origin of the concept is from the Chinese philosophy
of yin and yang.
On the shortest day of the year, darkness and cold,
which are qualities of yin, are believed to be at their peak.
But at the same time, it marks a turning point
for the coming of light and warmth,
the qualities of yang with longer days.
It is a time for families to get together and celebrate
with hearty meals.
People typically eat dumplings in Northern China.
And in Hong Kong, meals generally
include tang yuan, a sweet soup with sticky rice.
Also, the name tang yuan sounds similar to tuan yuan,
which means reunion in Chinese.
And the winter solstice festival is
all about reuniting and celebrating optimism.
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