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.
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