Winter Solstice 冬至

Singapore

新加坡

It is Winter Solstice again.

又是冬至节。

What is the winter solstice like for Heng Hwa people?

兴化人的冬至是怎么样的呢？

Heng Hwa people believe that the winter solstice night is grander than new year's eve and winter solstice morning is grander than new year's day. 

兴化人认为冬至晚大过除夕晚，冬至早大过年初一。

I remember when I was a child, my grandmother would set up ginger and ten pairs of chopsticks every winter solstice night, and then we started making glutinous rice balls.

记得小时候，每当冬至晚祖母就会摆好姜母和十双筷子，然后我们开始搓汤圆。

Any shape when making the glutinous rice balls must be in pairs.

搓汤圆时的任何造型都要成双成对。

There is also pithy formula for making the glutinous rice balls.

搓汤圆还有口诀。

冬至搓汤圆，家中出好儿。

汤圆搓圆圆，日日挣大钱。

金鸡搓两只，手脚会利落。

狗仔搓一双，出入都平安。

银币搓两片，闲心沿路逛。

元宝搓两个，儿孙出头日。

旁边放姜母，日子过大好。

鸳鸯嘴吮嘴，荣华兼富贵。

簸箕插五春，经常做乾坤。

中间放红筷，出门大吉利。

橘子放一堆，儿孙围成团。

汤圆包花生，保佑一家添财又添丁。

P/S: Nanyang people generally call Putian people Heng Hwa people.

注：南洋人普遍称莆田人为兴化人。