Winter Comes...

Chinese People's Winter Solstice Festival (冬至"Dong Zhi") always falls on 24th of the eleventh lunar month or a few days before Christians' Christmas Day. Literally, the phrase "冬至" means Winter Comes.

During this festival, Chinese will always eat glutinous rice ball (汤圆"Tang Yuan"). This food is made of glutinous rice rolled into balls. Nowsadays, there are various way of making glutinous rice ball. It can be dry, stirred with peanut, milk or coconut powder. The other alternatives can be served in soup, stuffed with peanut, red bean, cocoa paste, etc.

As usual, as Chinese, my family celebrates this traditional Chinese Festival. At the same time, each year, my mum will bake the raw ingredient of glutinous rice ball as well as cooked glutinous rice ball to be sold in the Sunday market. Helping my mum, I found less and less customers each year buying or eating our traditional food on this meaningful traditional festival. One cause could be people spend less due to economic crisis. This is considerable excuse. Another cause could be Chinese forsake their tradition gradually.

If the Chinese forsake their own tradition gradually,it is a threat to our Chinese tradition. It is my main worry. This scenario not only evident during Winter Solstice but also other Chinese festivals like Chinese New Year, Moon Cake Festival, Dumpling Festival. Worst still when the Chinese traditional virtues (e.g. respecting the elders, loving the family, being loyal to own spouse, hardworking, honest) are no longer been practised. This is much more significant in Chinese young generation.

I lament for the lost. The lost of our Chinese tradition which is evident each year. I beg for all Chinese generations to remember our traditions and practise them. Each of them has their meanings.

Taken for example, eating glutinous rice ball custom during Winter Solstice Festival has its memorable meaning that was transmitted by our anscestor. Glutinous rice ball (汤圆"Tang Yuan") resembles REUNION...Hoping and Wishing the whole family reunited and living in harmony as well as happiness. It is also a custom of commemorating the lost of the loved ones and wising for the future aspirations of a better life.

So, all Chinese, have you eatten the glutinous rice ball during this Winter Solstice Festival. If no, DO SO!. You can make and eat the glutinous rice ball together with your family, friends, lovers, relatives, etc...spread your love.