Winter Solstice Celebration

Reported by Ms. Samiksha M., PhD student

International Buddhist College (IBC) celebrated the ‘Winter Solstice Day’ on 22 December 2023. The Dongzhi Festival or Winter Solstice Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated during the Dongzhi solar term. In Chinese, the word “Dong” means “winter” while “Zhi” means “arrival” giving the literal meaning of the festival “the coming of winter”. When the day is at its shortest and the night at its longest, the Dongzhi Festival is celebrated. Symbolizing the victory of light over darkness, Dongzhi signifies that the days will start to grow longer and brings a sense of balance and harmony to people's lives. Traditionally, the Dongzhi Festival is a time for families to eat together.

In IBC, this day was celebrated by all the students. Everyone helped to prepare the dumplings and enjoyed the dumplings together. We shared a great time together during the process in making dumplings. Dongzhi is the last festival of the year, occurring only six weeks before the Chinese New Year. However, some believe that Dongzhi is a turning point for everyone - it is the day when everyone becomes one year older. The festive food is also a reminder that celebrators are now a year older and should behave better in the coming year. In keeping up with old traditions, Dongzhi still sees many Chinese commemorating their ancestors by performing rituals and offering sacrifices, etc. Some families make it a habit to gather at temples for prayers and making offerings to ancestors.

The Winter Solstice Celebration at the International Buddhist College broke the boundaries of cultural diversity, weaving a beautiful narrative of unity, reflection, and shared joy. In the spirit of togetherness, students actively participated in the preparation of dumplings, thus embodying the spirit of cultural exchange. The very act of enjoying these handmade delicacies became a celebration of unity, reminding everyone that shared experiences enrich our lives and create memories.

Last but not least, we would like to express our gratitude to all members who were involved either directly or indirectly in this event. Thank you!