"doing winter" 做冬

12/22/2011 is winter solstice 冬至 (the shortest day and longest night of the year). In Chinese tradition, we consider this day the beginning of the first year, because after this day, the days get longer and longer.  

We celebrate this night with our closest family with good food and we end the dinner with 湯圓 (Round Sweet dumplings, usually have peanut or black sesame paste in them. The round shape symbolize a full cycle of the year).