Dongzhi 2019

-

Dongzhi 2019: Chinese Winter Solstice

The winter solstice festival was originated from the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) and thrived in the Tang and Song dynasties (618 - 1279). People in the old times attached great importance to the festival. In Han Dynasty, the festival is regarded as the Winter Festival and people had one day off for the holiday.

The winter festival, Dongzhi also known as Chinese Winter Solstice, starts from December 21st and ends at 23rd of the same month. This festival is celebrated in China, Korea, Vietnam and Japan. The reason why the Chinese people celebrate the Winter solstice is related to the theory of Yin and Yang. According to the Chinese astrology, Yang symbolizes masculine and positive, Yin has the opposite meanings. The ancient people think from the winter solstice, the Yin is at its peak and will disappear gradually. While the Yang or positive things will become stronger and stronger from the day. So winter solstice is regarded as an auspicious day to celebrate. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hinamatsuri— The Girl's Day

-
Image
Today is “Hina Festival”. “Hina Doll” It is a spring festival originally transmitted from China as "Kami". I t is called "peach festival" because it is performed at the time when peach blossoms bloom ... Originally, before the Heian period (almost 1,000 years back), it was performed regardless of gender in the same way as the Dango festival, but it gradually became a girl's festival. The custom of this day is to display dolls on a red carpet. The dolls with dresses of Emperor and Empress are placed at the top and the ladies with ministers are in lower rows of the shelf. It is said that the ebb and flow of the evil to the dolls and the doll play of the girls were linked. The Japanese are a bit superstitious here. They believe that if you're a girl and fail to take the dolls out of the shelf right after the festival, no one is going to marry you for a long period of time.  So hurry up girls!  Put the dolls away! ( © yoshi0511 / Shutterstoc)
Read more

Thousands Of Heavens Under Earth

-
Image
Divers at El Pit Cenote, located in Dos Ojos Natural Park, Quintana Roo, Mexico A different kind of dive The divers are descending the clear, turquoise waters of a cenote on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. A cenote is a sinkhole that’s created when the limestone bedrock collapses and exposes groundwater underneath, creating pools of fresh water that delight swimmers, and even cave divers. They’re diving in ‘El Pit’ Cenote, part of a flooded cave system near Tulum. It’s one of thousands of cenotes, documented on the Yucatán, and a popular spot for divers who come to swim through the brilliant sunbeams. (© Christia Vizl/Tandem Stills + Motio)
Read more

The Colossal Splendour Of Conwy Castle

-
Image
Conwy Castle illuminated at night, Conwy Happy St David's Day! We’re celebrating St David’s Day here on the north coast of Wales in the spectacular walled town of Conwy. For more than seven centuries, Conwy Castle has towered over its narrow streets, against the mountainous skyline of Snowdonia. In its heyday it would have been white – lime render can still be seen on the walls – but even in its darker state it makes quite the impression, soaring out of a natural rock formation at the mouth of the River Conwy. Climb its battlements and you will be treated to sweeping views of the mountains, the sea, Conwy itself and the castle’s roofless Great Hall. You’re never too far from a castle in Wales – there are around 600 of them, many of which will be flying the Welsh flag on St David’s Day. Other ways to celebrate Wales’s patron saint include wearing a daffodil or a leek, the country's national emblems, taking part in parades, concerts or simply feasting on Welsh cakes,
Read more