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In China
In Chinese, the word "Dong" means "winter" while "Zhi" means "arrival" giving the literal meaning of the festival "the coming of winter". Dongzhi celebrates the winter solstice, usually around December 21st to 23rd, and is observed on the longest night of the year. Symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, Dongzhi, represents that the days will start to grow longer and bring a sense of balance and harmony to people's lives. Based on Chinese beliefs of yin yang, "Yang" represents positive energy, warmth, and light. Following the Dongzhi Festival, daytime will gradually lengthen, as "Yang" will also increase. It was also believed by some that that it was the day the Kitchen God went to heaven to report to the Jade Emperor the conduct of a family.

The festival was first celebrated by the Chinese people during the Zhou Dynasty (1045 BC–256 BC) and declared an official celebration during the Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 BC). The Han people would take a break from work to celebrate with their families. They would hold heaven worshipping as well as honoring their ancestors by burning joss paper at their ancestral shrines to show gratitude.

The Chinese people still celebrate certain practices during the Dongzhi festival, such as the union of family. Unlike the pearly white tangyuan that is usually eaten during the Lantern Festival, people dye these glutinous balls pink or red to represent fortuitous colors in Chinese society. Many Chinese elders still insist that people get a year older after Dongzhi, and "if you do not partake of a red tangyuan and a white tangyuan, you will not grow a year older." Common superstitions include that tangyuan should be swallowed in pairs for good luck, a married person should leave two uneaten to have their wishes come true, and a single person should leave one for an auspicious year.The Dongzhi Festival has historically been associated with various agricultural activities in China, particularly in rural areas. As the festival represents the winter solstice, it is a crucial time to harvest winter crops, such as wheat, barley, and radishes. It is also an important time to pay respect to certain livestock and feed these animals special meals to celebrate the occasion.