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冬至 Dongzhi: literally means “winter solstice”
Dongzhi is the day when the daytime is the shortest and the night time is the longest in the Northern Hemisphere. Dongzhi usually begins on around 22 December and ends on around 5 January.
「冬至」是北半球白天最短、夜晚最長的日子。冬至通常在國曆12月22日至1月5日。
Dongzhi is not only one of the most important solar terms, but also the most important day at the end of the year. As a proverb goes, “Dongzhi is as big as the New Year.” Dongzhi is not just be called “Winter Festival”, but also “the Minor New Year”. In ancient times, the emperor offered sacrifices to gods and the ancestors, and civil and military officials took a day off on that day.
「冬至」不僅是一年中最重要的節氣，也是年終最重要的大日子。俗話說「冬至大如年」，冬至日不僅被稱為「冬節」，也有人把過冬至稱為「過小年」，古時候的皇帝甚至會在這天祭天和拜祖先，並宣佈文武百官放假一天。
Dongzhi is the day when the daytime is the shortest and the night time is the longest in the Northern Hemisphere. Dongzhi usually begins on around 22 December and ends on around 5 January.
「冬至」是北半球白天最短、夜晚最長的日子。冬至通常在國曆12月22日至1月5日。
Dongzhi is not only one of the most important solar terms, but also the most important day at the end of the year. As a proverb goes, “Dongzhi is as big as the New Year.” Dongzhi is not just be called “Winter Festival”, but also “the Minor New Year”. In ancient times, the emperor offered sacrifices to gods and the ancestors, and civil and military officials took a day off on that day.
「冬至」不僅是一年中最重要的節氣，也是年終最重要的大日子。俗話說「冬至大如年」，冬至日不僅被稱為「冬節」，也有人把過冬至稱為「過小年」，古時候的皇帝甚至會在這天祭天和拜祖先，並宣佈文武百官放假一天。
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Making and Eating Tangyuan,
Offer Sacrifices to Ancestors 搓(吃)湯圓、祭祖 The major custom of “Winter Festival” is to make Tangyuan to worship the Penates, Dijizhu (the foundation main, for the foundation of a house of worship), and the ancestors. Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) stands for the fulfillness and the reunion. Tangyuan of Dongzhi is different from Tangyuan of Lantern Festival. It has two colors, which is red and white. And it has no stuffing inside. Taiwanese think that one will become one year older after eating Dongzhi Tangyuan. 「冬節」最主要的習俗是搓湯圓祭拜家中供奉諸神和地基主，同時也舉行祭祖。湯圓象徵圓滿、團圓之意。冬至的湯圓有別於元宵圓，是紅白兩色，且無內餡。台灣民間認為，吃過冬節湯圓就表示增添一歲。 Photo: People are making Tangyuan |
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Xie Dong (Appreciating Gods) 謝冬
Temples in some traditional villages will hold ceremonies, which is called “Xie Dong”, from Dongzhi to the end of lunar November to thank gods for help and pray for safety and good harvest for the next year.
有些較傳統的聚落村廟，會固定於冬至起到農曆十一月底前，則依即日舉行年尾謝平安的祭拜儀式，這便是「謝冬」。感謝老天爺幫忙，一年來保佑豐收，也祈求來年平安、豐收。
Temples in some traditional villages will hold ceremonies, which is called “Xie Dong”, from Dongzhi to the end of lunar November to thank gods for help and pray for safety and good harvest for the next year.
有些較傳統的聚落村廟，會固定於冬至起到農曆十一月底前，則依即日舉行年尾謝平安的祭拜儀式，這便是「謝冬」。感謝老天爺幫忙，一年來保佑豐收，也祈求來年平安、豐收。
「乾冬至，濕過年」
If the weather of Dongzhi is good, it may rain on the New Year.
冬至這天如果是好天氣的話，過年可能就會下雨。
If the weather of Dongzhi is good, it may rain on the New Year.
冬至這天如果是好天氣的話，過年可能就會下雨。
Rest adequately and keep warm. Take some exercises in peacetime. Establish the concept of prevention is better than treatment. Pay attention to a balanced diet intake.
在冬季裡應注意保暖和充分的休息，平時即應注意身體之鍛鍊，建立預防重於治療的觀念，重視飲食營養均衡攝取。
在冬季裡應注意保暖和充分的休息，平時即應注意身體之鍛鍊，建立預防重於治療的觀念，重視飲食營養均衡攝取。
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongzhi_(solar_term)
http://theme.coa.gov.tw/100/view.php?issue=24421&id=24448
https://market.cloud.edu.tw/content/local/taipei/tpteach/holiday/c9.htm
http://www.folktw.com.tw/culture_view.php?info=32
http://dict.th.gov.tw/term/view/2451
http://www.mdnkids.com.tw/24seasons/winter1.htm
http://www.klchb.gov.tw/ch/news/newspaper/fprint.aspx?p0=1696
http://theme.coa.gov.tw/100/view.php?issue=24421&id=24448
https://market.cloud.edu.tw/content/local/taipei/tpteach/holiday/c9.htm
http://www.folktw.com.tw/culture_view.php?info=32
http://dict.th.gov.tw/term/view/2451
http://www.mdnkids.com.tw/24seasons/winter1.htm
http://www.klchb.gov.tw/ch/news/newspaper/fprint.aspx?p0=1696
