Origin Stories
Ever wondered how this festival came about and what it is beyond just eating our beloved tangyuan? Let’s dive deeper into the origins of the magical Winter Solstice!
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Winter Solstice Festival
Winter Solstice is Dongzhi in Chinese, referring to the “peak of winter” that has the shortest day and longest night. It’s the day when the sun travels the shortest path through the sky, resulting in a day that has the least daylight and the longest night. Although winter never arrives in sunny Singapore, Winter Solstice happens every year — this year on December 22. In Singapore, Chinese families celebrate Winter Solstice in various ways.
Info source: Britannica – Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice
Through The Years
1979
1979
Lady rolls coloured rice flour balls in her kitchen in Merchant Street in preparation for Winter Solstice.
Image source: National Archives of Singapore
1990s
1990s
Starting since the 1990s, the supermarket continues to sell frozen tangyuan today.
Image source: Chinatown Food Corporation
2019
2019
Fengshan CC’s 2019 Winter Solstice celebration set a new Singapore record for Most Number Of People Eating Tangyuan Together.
Image source: Singapore Book of Records
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