Happy Winter Solstice

Winter Solstice or so call 冬至 (dong1 zhi4) in Mandarin. This is a Chinese tradition festival. Every year the date on Lunar Calender share the same date with Julia Calender. In Chinese occasion, there are 2 festival share the same date in the both calender which are Cheng Beng and Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice fall on 22-December every year. It was a date I never forget in my life.... few years back, on this date was the date my beloved and respectful grand mother passed away.

Winter Solstice is a festival where every family will prepare the dumpling or so call "汤圆" (Tang1 Yuan2). All the family members will be back for the gathering and eat the dumpling. For Chinese always like to say: "吃汤圆，我们一家来团圆". In those days, the whole family sit down together and helping the mother to prepare the dumpling together. The process of making the dumpling created the memory and keep in the heart forever. But these days, we can just settle it by money. Can buy the dumpling from super market whereby its ready made. To me, we had spoiled the tradition by modernize. I still love the old days where we use to hand made the dumpling together in the family. I remember that my dad always being creative by making the dumpling in different patterns. Some are big, some are fantastic small, some even mix color. As children always excited with the different or special item, still keep in mind that me and my brother always try to grab the 4 colors mix dumpling. So much fun keep in our childhood memory.

As for this year, I was very sad that I could not make it to have dumpling with my son. We initially was plan to have dinner at Butterworth together with my brother and his in-law family. Was planning to bring my son, Chong Hee along. Unfortunately it was a very bad day. My wife was discharge from Hospital Lam Wah Eeh, suppose to discharge at 9.30am some how the document procedure was not done clearly between hospital and the insurance agent, my wife was only able to discharge at 4pm. On the other hand, I was met with an accident in the morning, where motor hit my car, break my back right hand side brake light. Logged a police report before heading to Butterworth. Due Winter Solstice festival, everyone was rushing home for their family gathering and dumpling, Penang bridge was stuck with JAM! Leave me no choice but have to cancel our plan. End up we just had our mini family gathering at E-gate Noodle Station, and take Wan Tan (Meat dumpling) as our dumpling. So sad.....

I feel that there are several very important family gathering festival we should not miss, there are: Mid Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice Festival, Christmas, Chinese New Year and Cheng Beng. These are the family gathering festival for Chinese tradition and family gathering date (Christmas). I would love to keep some of the tradition way of celebrating these festival through out my life, so that my family members will feel miss home when these festivals arrive.