Today is Dong Zhi. Most Singapore Chinese will associate this day to ‘tang yuan’ – glutinous rice flour balls. Well, want to know the history of Dong Zhi . . . Dong Zhi is a thanksgiving festival in the Chinese calendar. It marks the end of the year with a new one approaching. Literally, it means ‘the arrival of winter’.
The Winter Solstice Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Chinese and other East Asians during this festival. Dong Zhi is the day when sunshine is weakest and daylight shortest.
This celebration can be traced to the Taoist belief of yin and yang, which represents balance and harmony in life. It is believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful at this time. However, it is also the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang. For this reason, the Dong Zhi Festival is a time for optimism.
This day is also the birthday of the Primival Lord Of Heaven (Yuan Shi Tian Zun), one of the Three Pure Ones in Taoism. Taoists will perform rituals on this day. But it is a pity that younger generation today is not very appreciative to this festival.
It is an occasion for the family to get together to celebrate the good year they have had. To symbolize the unity and harmony in the family, tang yuan is cooked and eaten during this festival.‘Tang Yuan’ also means “tuan yuan” (family reunion). The round shape of the rice balls symbolises reunion for the family, the sweet soup and pink colour is for harmony and good fortune. The flour balls may be plain or stuffed.
How to make tang yuan?
- Add cool or tap water bit by bit to one cup of glutinous flour until you can mix it to the same texture as playdough.
- Divide the dough into small portions. For pink ones, add colouring and knead on the dough to ensure even distribution of colour.
- For stuffings, the fillings can be gula melaka (coconut sugar) or crushed peanuts.
Alternatively, you can get ready doughs in wet markets or better still, supermarkets offer ready-packed ones with fillings of red beans, black sesame and peanut paste.
How to cook tang yuan?
- If plain soup is preferred, just cook the tang yuan in a pot of boiling water and add sugar to suit taste.
- For my family, I like to use dried longans for the stock. The brown-coloured soup makes it more appealing.
Either way, when the dumpling floats, they are done. Let them sink in for a short while more but do not overcook lest they become mushy.
So parents, hope you can make use of above tips to prepare tang yuan for your family. While you are enjoying the rice balls, do share the story of Dong Zhi with your children. This is one tradition and culture that we should pass on.
http://www.juneparenting.com is very interesting. I liked your blog a lot. Thank you.
I really love the way your page looks. I think it is great. If you dont mind me asking, what theme is it? Thanks.
Nice intriguing article. It provides informative insights to the blog readers like me.
You completed a few good points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found mainly people will have the same opinion with your blog.
I am extremely inspiried with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. It’s unlikely to see a nice site like this one these days.
Great post! Also your web site loads up fast! What host are you using? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
This is really a smart blog. I mean it. You’ve got so a lot understanding about this issue, and so a lot passion. You also know the way to make folks rally behind it, obviously from the responses. Youve got a design here thats not too flashy, but makes a statement as huge as what youre saying. Wonderful job, indeed.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m making my way to the top as well. I absolutely enjoy reading everything that is written on your blog.Keep the information coming. I loved it!
Congratulations for posting such a helpful blog. Your blog isn’t only informative but also extremely good post too. There usually are extremely few people who can write not so simple post on a blog that creatively. Keep up the good work..
Congratulations on having one of the most sophisticated blogs Ive come across in some time! Its just incredible how a lot you can take away from one thing simply because of how visually beautiful it is. Youve put collectively a terrific blog space –great graphics, videos, layout. This is certainly a must-see weblog!
Congratulations on having 1 of the most sophisticated blogs Ive arrive throughout in some time! Its just incredible how much you can take away from a thing simply because of how visually beautiful it’s. Youve put collectively a terrific weblog space –great graphics, videos, layout. This is absolutely a must-see blog!
Congratulations on having 1 of the most sophisticated blogs Ive come throughout in some time! Its just incredible how much you can take away from some thing simply because of how visually beautiful it is. Youve put collectively a wonderful blog space –great graphics, videos, layout. This is absolutely a must-see weblog!
Hi, first I’m really happy I found this article. Also, let me say I like the way you write, makes it really nice to read. I’l take a look around the rest of the site, hope your other stuff is that interresting as well.
Thank you. This has been one of the most well written blogs I have ever read. The topic is very interesting and the content is well written. I appreciate your blog writing skill.
I have really enjoyied reading your well written article. It looks like you spend a lot of effort and time on your blog. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!
Heyo, I actually have a weblog additionally, however it is overrun with spam. Your website seems to be decently free of that garbage. What does one use to get rid of it?
This website is my intake , rattling wonderful layout and perfect subject material .
The guidelines you shared here are definitely helpful. Rrt had been such a enjoyable surprise to have that waiting for me after i woke up this rather day. They are continuously to the point and straightforward to learn. Thanks a ton for the valuable ideas you’ve shared suitable here.
Hey i just visited your site for the first time and i really liked it, i bookmarked it and will be back
Great stuff, I will be I look here frequently thanks for the hard work.
We are a group of volunteers and beginning a replacement project in our community. Your blog provided us with valuable information to figure on|.You have done a great job
Really educating blog, bookmarked the web-site in interest to see much more!
as I web site owner i feel the written content here is rattling wonderful, regards for your efforts.
I admire your piece of work, regards for all the interesting posts .
If I possess 3 thumbs I might be giving them all out thanks to the actual fact of this intelligent entry, but I solely have two. so two thumbs up for you then.
I’m truly enjoying the design and layout of your site. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Outstanding work!
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is fantastic, as well as the content!
It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d most certainly donate to this outstanding blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for bookmarking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
If you’re fascinated by having a guest blog websiteer please let me apprehend. I will be able to offer you with distinctive content for your webstie, thanks.
I was suggested this website by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my trouble. You’re incredible! Thanks!
Thanks for giving us the time to discuss this post, I feel strongly about it and enjoy learning more on this idea.
Do you mind if I quote a couple of your articles as long as I provide credit and sources back to your site? My website is in the very same area of interest as yours and my visitors would certainly benefit from a lot of the information you provide here. Please let me know if this okay with you. Appreciate it!
Very well written post. It will be beneficial to everyone who reads this. Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
I’ve already bookmark this article and will definitely refer this article to all my close friends and colleagues. Thanks for posting!
I cannot thank you enough for the article.Really thank you! Fantastic.
It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your own hard work on this web page. My mom takes pleasure in engaging in investigations and it is easy to understand why. Almost all hear all concerning the compelling mode you make invaluable ideas on your website and as well as welcome response from some other people about this point and our simple princess is actually discovering a whole lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the new year. You are always performing a really great job.
I like this web site so much, saved to fav. “To hold a pen is to be at war.” by Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire.
Valuable article I enjoyed it. Someone else once said: For all my longer works, for example novels, I write chapter outlines so I can have the pleasure of departing from them later on.
Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different internet browsers and both show the same results.
good good good stuff. It was a great read and a great way to kill time lol. But I like your article though.
Just wished to mention your blog is incredibly sensible. I typically prefer to hear some factor new about this mainly because I even have the similar blog in my Country on this subject so this help´s me lots. I did an enquiry on a subject matter and observed a very good range of blogs but nothing like this.Thanks for sharing such a lot in your blog.
Just wish to say your article is as astounding. The clarity in your post is just excellent and i can assume you are an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission let me to grab your RSS feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the enjoyable work.
Dead written content , thankyou for entropy.
I found your blog on yahoo and can bookmark it currently. sustain the good work.
Some truly fascinating points you’ve written. Assisted me a good deal, just what I was seeking for : D.
I do consider all the ideas you have presented for your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too quick for novices. Could you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post.
A person essentially help to make seriously posts I would state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to make this particular publish amazing. Great job!
Thank you for sharing your stuff on blog. it is doubtless that we have similar interests. one thing are very useful to me.
Very interesting posts on your site. I keep on coming back to learn more. I have bookmarked it as well for future reference. I hope you dont mind at all.
Nice design! How had you get that awesome design?