冬至

today, according to the chinese lunar calendar, is 冬至 [Dōngzhì Festival or Winter Solstice Festival]. it is one of the most important festivals to the chinese. traditionally, it is a time when familes get together.

during these get togethers ,members of the family make and eat 湯圓 [tong yuin]. they are glutinuous rice flour, sometimes brightly coloured, made into little balls, which symbolize reunion. everyone's supposed to receive at least one large tong yuin in addition to smaller ones. these little flour balls may be plain or stuffed and are cooked in a sweet soup or savoury broth with both the ball and the soup/broth served in one bowl.

last night, one of my aunts who live in the city came over with grandma and cousin. they rolled coloured flour into little balls which everyone [except me] then ate. personally, i never was able to stomache the flour-y taste. so i actively participated by looking on and snapping pics. haha.

anyway, reunion.

that's what it's about and i definitely am keeping my fingers crossed for many more years of this to come.