华语侨心 | 二十四节气——冬至 Winter Solstice

Counting nines is a Chinese custom that is similar to a countdown to spring. The days after the Winter Solstice are divided into nine sections, with each section consisting of nine days. After 81 days, it is said that spring is arriving. The third period of nine days after the Winter Solstice is usually the coldest period in winter.

人们挑选一句描写春天来临的诗词，一共九个字，每个字有九个笔画。每天写一笔，直到春天到来。

People choose a poetic sentence that symbolizes the arrival of spring. The sentence consists of nine characters in total, with each character being composed of nine strokes. People write one stroke every day until spring arrives.

冬至这天，人们会画一枝梅枝，枝上有九朵无色的梅花，每朵梅花上有九片花瓣。每过一天，就把一片花瓣涂上颜色，等所有的花都被涂上颜色后，春天就近了。

On the Winter Solstice, people traditionally draw a plum branch with nine colorless flowers, each having nine petals. Every day, one petal is painted in color. After all the flowers are colored, it signifies that springtime is near.

梅花在寒冷的冬天绽放，象征坚毅、顽强和不畏寒冷的精神。其婀娜多姿的花形和独特的香气，使梅花成为文人雅士钟爱的绘画题材。

Plum blossoms bloom in the cold winter, symbolizing determination, resilience, and a spirit that is not afraid of the cold. Its graceful and charming flower shape, as well as its unique fragrance, have made the plum blossom a beloved subject of painting among literati and scholars.

“岁寒又冬至，团圆正当时”，中国北方冬至有吃饺子的习俗，南方大部分地区则有冬至吃汤圆的习俗，寓意着团圆、和美和幸福。冬令进补是中医养生防病的传统方法。冬至阴气始退，阳气渐生，进补最为适宜，因为此时人体最易吸收外来的营养，发挥其滋补功效。

"The severe winter is also known as the Winter Solstice when reunion is just in time". It is customary to eat dumplings on the Winter Solstice in the north of China, and glutinous rice dumplings in most parts of the south of China, which symbolizes reunion, harmony, and happiness. Traditional Chinese medicine uses reinforcing methods to maintain health. It is the most appropriate time to eat tonic food because human body can absorb the most nutrition, when yin qi retreats and yang qi grows at the Winter Solstice.

可在饺子的面皮中加入茯苓粉，再用白菜猪肉作馅料来包饺子。茯苓有健脾、利水渗湿的作用，白菜有消食养胃的功效，俗话说“百菜不如白菜”。本膳食不仅味道鲜美，还有很好的保健作用，脾虚体倦、食少者可常食。

Poria cocos powder can be added to the dough of dumplings, and then Chinese cabbage and pork as filling to make the dumplings. Poria cocos has the effects of invigorating the spleen, promoting urination and drain dampness, while Chinese cabbage has the effect of promoting digestion and nourishing the stomach. As the saying goes, " Chinese cabbage is the king among vegetables." This diet has not only a delicious taste, but also good healthcare benefits. People with spleen deficiency, body fatigue, and low appetite can often eat.

将山药洗净、蒸熟后去皮，与黑芝麻一起做馅心，由糯米粉加水和面，包馅心制作而成。本膳食补肾益精、健脾益气，可缓解冬季脾胃虚寒、腹泻、肺虚喘咳等症状。

The Chinese yam glutinous rice dumplings are made of fillings and dough of dumplings. Washing and steaming the Chinese yam and then peeling it, mixing with black sesame as the fillings. And mixing glutinous rice flour with water to knead dough and wrapping fillings inside dough. This diet nourishes the kidneys and strengthens the essence, invigorates the spleen and replenishes qi, and can alleviate symptoms such as deficiency-cold of spleen and stomach, diarrhea, lung- deficiency, asthma, and cough in winter.