1 . Winter Solstice Celebrations From Around the World

The winter solstice (冬至), the longest night of the year, falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern. Since ancient times, people all over the world have celebrated this important astronomical occurrence in different ways. Here are some solstice traditions both new and old to help light your way to longer days.

Soyal

Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona. Ceremonies and rituals include purification, dancing, and sometimes gift-giving. On the day, Hopi welcome the protective spirits from the mountains.

Saturnalia

The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia is perhaps the most closely linked with the modern celebration of Christmas. This festival happened around the time of the winter solstice and celebrated the end of the planting season. There were games and feasts and gift-giving for several days.

Midwinter in Antarctica

Even Antarctica gets its share of solstice celebration, thanks to the researchers staying there over the long, dangerously cold season. While those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the most daylight hours, in the Southern Hemisphere they are celebrating Midwinter. Festivities include special meals, films, and sometimes even handmade gifts.

Dong Zhi

Dong Zhi, the “arrival of winter”, is an important festival in China. It is a time for family to get together and celebrate the year they have had. The holiday generally falls between the 21st and 23rd of December. It is thought to have started as an end-of-harvest festival. Special foods, such as Tang Yuan and Jiaozi, are enjoyed. Friends and family members occasionally express their blessings and care to each other through gifts.

The Mid-Autumn Festival,     1     is an important traditional festival in China, usually falls in September or October. It is on the 15th day of the     2     (eight) month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Festival Celebration between New Zealand and China     3     (hold) with high quality performances at the New Zealand National Museum last Sunday night. Artists from southwestern China’s Chongqing     4     (present) the Wellington audience with Sichuan Opera Performance. The performances perfectly showed the charm of Chinese culture and art     5     the audience.

Guo Zongguang, who is the     6     (direct) of the China Cultural Center in New Zealand, stressed that this show was one of    7     most important events in this year’s culture exchanges between China and New Zealand.

Brett Hudson, a member of Parliament, acknowledged that China, now New Zealand’s largest trading partner, provided New Zealanders with thousands and thousands of     8     (job). Our relationship with China is     9     (extreme) important. Our two-way trade now tops 28 billion New Zealand dollars in 2018,     10     (help)New Zealanders improve life styles for families. And it is strengthening even further through cultural exchange and better understanding of one another.