One this Day Taste a Rice Ball and Become One Year Older: Winter SolsticeSince childhood‚ the one thing we have anticipated the most on the evening of the Winter Solstice is a bowl filled with warm sweet soup and red-and-white rice balls. The elders tell us that we will become one year older after eating these rice balls. For every child wishing to grow up‚ rice balls are filled with imagination and expectations for the future. 
Picture: Rice Balls
The custom of tasting rice balls was documented in the local historical literature in 1696. During the Winter Solstice‚ every household would make rice balls to worship gods and ancestors‚ gather together and add ages. According to custom‚ rice balls are made in red and white colors. Six egg-sized rice balls colored either red or white are stuffed with sugar‚ peanut powder‚ etc.‚ which are called “Mother of Rice Balls”. One or two rice balls which have been used for worshipping ancestors are attached to doors‚ windows‚ tables and chairs‚ and bed cabinets by convention. It is said that children who taste these dry rice balls may be protected and will grow up safe and sound.
During the Winter Solstice‚ the direct sunlight on Tropic of Capricorn brings the shortest daytime and the longest night in the northern hemisphere. After the Winter Solstice‚ the sunlight gradually moves north‚ causing the daytime to become longer and the nighttime to become shorter. The following picture: “Growth of Yang（陽）on Winter Solstice” refers to the peak of Yin（陰）on Winter Solstice and the gradual growth of Yang on the contrary.
“Long Solstice” is another name for the Winter Solstice. On that day‚ when the pole is set up vertically on the ground to measure the shadow of sunlight with a thread‚ the shadow of sunlight is the longest. Thus‚ threads have to be added on other days. Moreover‚ after the Winter Solstice‚ the daytime becomes longer‚ so women would spend more time doing needlework‚ bringing the wording of “adding thread” as the symbol. When the day of the Winter Solstice came‚ the harvest of crops ended; it was also the signing day for the land lease contract. Landlords and tenants determined the renewal of contracts on this day. In documents‚ the expiration day of many land lease contracts was the day of the Winter Solstice.
In addition to agriculture‚ the Winter Solstice is also used as important timing for mullets to spawn. During the spawning period the mullets are particularly sensitive to the sea temperature. As the air and sea temperature decrease in the winter‚ a school of mullets from the northwest Pacific will move south to find a sea area suitable for spawning. They come to the Taiwan Strait and become the delicacies on the table.
The deliciousness of mullets is hidden in the deep sense of taste of Taiwanese people. In addition to mullets‚ the most famous delicacy is the dry mullet roes. Around the time of the Winter Solstice‚ mullet roe drying can be seen along the west coast of Taiwan with pieces of orange red placed on the racks to absorb the sunlight. The condensed fresh flavor slowly spreads in the mouth‚ bringing the fresh taste of the sea.
Corresponding to the agricultural and fishing timing‚ the Winter Solstice has a very important symbolic significance in the traditional society. Although these customs have gradually been forgot in the present age‚ still many archives and documents connect with the Winter Solstice‚ allowing us to experience the past customs and feelings of ancient life in the daily life. Just as the poet Shelley said: “If winter comes‚ can spring be far behind? ” During the Winter Solstice‚ people taste rice balls with freshness and sweetness full of the mouth and expect another coming new year. | 
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