Explore the fascinating Chinese traditions of Winter Solstice, from warding off spirits with red bean soup to enjoying savory dumplings for luck.
1. The Magic of Dongzhi: More Than Just the Shortest Day
The holiday you are remembering is Dongzhi (冬至, Dōngzhì), also known as the Winter Solstice. In Chinese culture, this is one of the most significant festivals of the year, often celebrated with a family gathering that is considered as important as the Lunar New Year.
Dongzhi marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere (Winter Solstice).
Historically, this day signifies the turning point of Yin and Yang. As the nights begin to shorten and days lengthen after the solstice, it represents the return of positive energy (Yang). Beyond the astronomical significance, Dongzhi is deeply rooted in folklore and legends. One of the most famous stories involves the son of Gonggong, a mythical figure. Legend says his son was a wicked man who died on the Winter Solstice and turned into a plague ghost (疫鬼, yìguǐ), spreading disease and misfortune.
Because he was deathly afraid of red beans, people began cooking red bean soup on this day to protect their homes and ward off evil spirits.
2. Why Red Beans and Dumplings? A Tale of Two Traditions
The combination of red bean soup and dumplings in your photos represents a beautiful blend of Northern and Southern Chinese culinary traditions.
* Red Bean Soup (Hongdou Tang, 红豆汤, hóngdòu tāng):
As mentioned, the primary reason for eating red bean soup during Dongzhi is spiritual protection. The vibrant red color is believed to scare away the plague ghost and bring safety to the household.
In many regions, this soup includes Tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán), the round rice balls seen in your image. The word Tangyuan sounds like Tuanyuan (团圆, tuányuán), which means reunion.
Therefore, eating this sweet soup is a prayer for family harmony and togetherness throughout the coming year.
* Dumplings (Jiaozi, 饺子, jiǎozi):
The dumplings in your second image are the quintessential Dongzhi food of Northern China.
There is a popular saying: Eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice, or your ears will freeze off. This stems from a legend about Zhang Zhongjing, a famous physician of the Han Dynasty.
He saw poor people suffering from frostbitten ears during the winter and created ear-shaped dumplings filled with warming herbs and lamb to help them stay warm.
Today, eating Jiaozi is a way to celebrate survival through the cold winter and to invite prosperity, as their shape resembles ancient silver ingots.
On modern social media platforms like Xiaohongshu and Reddit, this meal has become a viral cozy aesthetic.
Users often share photos of their Dongzhi bowls, jokingly claiming they are ghost-proofing their apartments while enjoying a warm, carb-rich comfort meal.
It has evolved from a strict ritual into a celebrated moment of winter self-care.
3. A Delicious Superstition: Embracing Eastern Food Culture
While we might not literally fear plague ghosts in the modern world, these food-centered superstitions add a layer of charm and meaning to our daily lives.
From my perspective, these traditions offer a wonderful excuse to slow down and appreciate the transition of seasons.
Eastern food culture is unique because it connects what we eat directly to our health, our history, and even our luck. Whether or not the red beans actually keep the ghosts away, the act of preparing and sharing these specific dishes connects us to generations of people who did the same.
It is a celebration of resilience—a way to say that even in the darkest, coldest part of the year, there is warmth, sweetness, and delicious food to be found. Plus, let’s be honest: any tradition that encourages eating an extra bowl of dumplings or sweet red bean soup is a tradition worth keeping!
And they also show their mutual interest in eating these things. When I was in China, they took care of each other with delivery food on this day. The value of these foods may be just superstitious, but I thought that they contain more consideration and care for each other than that.
Have you ever looked after someone on a day like this? I hope you enjoy a meal together and tend to people you have good relationships with, usually with your family.
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