冬至通常是每年的12月21日到12月23日之间，在这一天，白昼时间是全年最短的一天，夜晚是全年时间最长的一天“Winter Solstice” falls between the periods of December 21 to December 23. On this day, the day is the shortest and night is the longest in the year.”
在中国，冬至是一个很重要的节日，这早已成为了一个传统。早在2500年前，中国人通过观察太阳测量出了冬至。中国自从古代就对冬至很重视，民间素有"冬至大如年"这样的说法。Winter Solstice is an important day in China, it becomes a tradition. More than 2500 years ago, Chinese people had detected this day by measuring the sun. China has attached great importance to the winter solstice since ancient times, and the folks have always said that the winter solstice is as big as the New Year festival.
在这天，中国北方会吃饺子，有“冬至到，吃水饺”这样的谚语；中国南方则会包汤圆、吃汤圆，以象征团圆。On this day, people in the northern part of China will eat dumplings, and there is a saying that references this custom. People in southern China will make and eat tangyuan, or rice dumplings, to symbolize the reunion of family.
从冬至以后，中国的绝大部分地区都会经历最寒冷的时期，中国人叫它”数九“。这一共有九个时期，每个时期分别有九天。在”一九“和”二九“，手放口袋就能避寒；”三九“和”四九“，路上会结冰；”五九“和”六九“，可以看到河岸边柳树抽芽了；在”七九“和”八九“，燕子回归，在最后的”九九“，牛开始犁地。After this day, many places in China go through the coldest period, which is called in Chinese, “Shu Jiu”. In total, there are nine periods with nine days for each. In the first and second nine days, people keep their hands in pockets; in the third and fourth nine days, people can walk on ice; in the fifth and sixth nice days, people can see willows along the river bank; in the seventh and eighth nine days, the swallow comes back and in the ninth nine days, the yak starts working.
冬至快乐！ Happy winter solstice.
愿我的朋友，在这个寒冬温暖快乐每一天。 I wish my friends warm and happy every day in this cold winter.
