Winter Solstice
It is the longest night of the year, the beginning of a new year in some ancient cultures. It is the midpoint of winter in a lunar calendar, but the beginning of winter in the solar calendar. Though the sun has traveled its farthest away from us, it is coming around toward us once again. Winter is still long but the hope of more light and rejuvenation is at its strongest.
It was an unusually sunny day. Early in the morning, links of pork sausages hung from four bamboo sticks were brought out onto the courtyard to dry where the laundry used to hang. Grains in the storage were raked and tossed several times to prevent molding. On this day, a crop of corns that was damaged by rain was brought out to dry. It would be set aside as animal feeds. Barely five o'clock, the sun was setting, sausages and grains were quickly gathered and brought indoors.
A bowl of steaming hot sweet rice ball soup was perfect for this night. The hot soup would rid the chills in the air. A small bag of ground sweet rice was brought back from the mill. After dinner, a big bamboo plate was set out for rolling the rice balls. A bowl of red colored dye was used to make some of the rice balls red. When the pot of water was boiling, little rice balls were dropped into it. The rice balls tumbled in the water for a while then floated to the top lining the surface like little cotton balls. Soup bowls were set out on the table, sugar scooped into them generously. Hot water was ladled into the bowls first, then the moist rice balls. Family members gathered around to enjoy the sweet soup. A little sweetness would go a long way.
What to do on a winter night such as this? To tell a story or two. To gossip about the neighbors and acquaintances. To worry about next year's harvest. How long was winter going to be? If the cold weather lasted well into spring, the first crops would be ruined. Were there going to be enough rain for the seedlings to start? A spring drought would devastate harvest for the entire year and too much rain in the summer would bring flood. Nature nurtures as well as destroys. Better prepare a good feast in the coming month for the Rain God, the river God, Kitchen God and the ancestors so that all of them were pleased enough to bring peace and good fortune next year. The New Year was just around the corner on the 2nd new moon after the winter solstice. A little more than a month was not too much time. There were meat to cure, vegetables to pickle, grains to grind and deities to bribe. So much to do and so little time.
To keep busy made the long winter cold fade a little faster. The working spirit was high and hopeful that the coming year would surely be a good year.