Winter Solstice - 冬至 - Dōng Zhì

冬至

As the longest night of the year is a time for optimism. It an fall anywhere between December 20th and 22nd. (12/22/2007, 12/21/2005)

Dōng Zhì, the Winter Solstice, is the “shortest day of the year”. The Chinese usually celebrate dōng zhì is usually celebrated on the longest night of the year. . . and (as with virtually every Chinese holiday I tell you about) it is a time for family reunions and special food. Farmers and fisherman are especially celebrating after preparations for the cold season.

By at least 500 BCE, the Chinese knew the date of the Winter Solstice by observing the movements of the sun with a sundialChina Internet Information Center>. Winter Solstice has been celebrated in China for at least 1,800 years. Shoes were one of the common gifts by 300 AD.

Traditions for this holiday – like every other vary considerably. In Northern China, many people eat dumplings, dumpling soup, or mutton. These are all hot Yang foods which warm the body and dispell the cold of Yin. In Southern China, some eat red-bean and glutinous rice to drive away ghosts and other evil things. Noodles are popular in many areas. Starting tomorrow, daytime starts to get a little longer again, or as the Chinese say "every day gets longer by the length of a thread." Noodles made specially for the festival are called "Long Thread Noodles".

In Henan (in Central China) it is tradition to eat Chinese dumplings (jiǎozi, 餃子) on this day. Children are told that if you don't eat dumplings on that day, their ears will be frozen and drop down. Evidently the BBC repeated this tidbit December 21, 2005! (My children are covered – they had dumplings for a snack on the 21^st and as part of breakfast and lunch on the 20^th!)

According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board:

Dōng Zhì celebrations can be traced to the Chinese belief in yin and yang, which represent balance and harmony in life. It is believed that the yin qualities of darkness and cold are at their most powerful at this time, but it is also the turning point, giving way to the light and warmth of yang. For this reason, the Dōng Zhì Festival is a time for optimism.

Astronomy Pictures of the Day

• 22 December 2007: Tyrrhenian Sea and Solstice Sky is a beautiful solstice composite with some explanation of the science on the same page.
  
  
• 22 December 2006: The View from Stereo Ahead
  
  
• 21 December 2005: Sunrise by the Season shows the sun rising in a Greece at Summer Solstice, Equinox, and Winter Solstice. It might be helpful in explaining how the daylight is longer and shorter.

Original References include:

Old link: http://www.enonline.sh.cn/CClook.asp?id=11100

http://home.wangjianshuo.com/archives/20031222_dongzhi_winter_solstice.htm

http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/heritage/festivals/he_fest_wint.jhtml

China Internet Information Service

http://www.ccnt.com.cn/tradition/jieri/jieri/winter1.htm

If you are interested in receiving My Musical Mandarin Musings online occasionally, just email me at mus-mandarin@wubison.com

Last updated: 22 December 2007

Pre-register and pick the class days for Fall 2005

Come with your preschooler and have fun with Chinese weekday mornings in Mountain Lakes at 9:30. Where music and movement are the keys to learning. Fall sessions for 2 – 6 year olds start in late September and early October.

Introduce your child(ren) to Chinese with songs, poetry, games, and instrument play! Immersion and music and movement are the most effective ways to give your child another language. Musical Mandarin uses song, instruments, puppets, storybooks and flannelboards to engage the senses. Designed to meet the learning needs of those not speaking Mandarin at home. (Mountain Lakes class is about 1 ½ miles from 287/80.)

To vote for the weekday that best fits your schedule or for more information: email mus-mandarin@wubison.com

I designed and teach "Musical Mandarin" based on bilingual/multilingualism research and early language acquisition.

Ear Training: Suggested CDs

I believe that listening to a language is invaluable for learning, especially for a tonal language. Although tones can not be learned purely from songs, most of us find it easier to listen to songs than conversations in another language. Music works, comprehension can follow.

Each session of Musical Mandarin includes a CD of the music that we are using that session – and a plea to listen to it at least once a week, preferably at least twice.

My favorite commercially available music includes:

Teach Me. . . Chinese by Judy Mahoney (also available in cassette) Mostly familiar tunes sung in English and Mandarin. It comes with a booklet with lyrics in English, pinyin and characters. It does not have a word by word translation of songs. ISBN 0934633835(tape) 0934633843 0934633827

Sing ‘N’ Learn Chinese by Trio Jan Jeng, Selina Yoon Mostly familiar tunes sung in Mandarin. It comes with a booklet with lyrics in pinyin and characters. ISBN 1888194065, 1888194170

Teach Me. . . More Chinese by Judy Mahoney (also available in cassette) Mostly familiar tunes sung in English and Mandarin. It comes with a booklet with lyrics in English, pinyin and characters. Individual words are not translated. ISBN 0934633479 0934633487

What I like about them is also what has me hesitating sometimes. Many of the tunes are familiar – translated songs we also know in America, in English. However, children in China do sing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and songs using the same tune as “Frere Jacques”.

Although watching foreign language television does not help to learn the language - interacting with another person and the same show seems to. BBC's Muzzy is now available in Mandarin!

Links for more Chinese music:

Childbook.com is a family-owned business that sells Chinese Children’s Books, Videos, Music, and Software that helps Children (and others) learn more about the Chinese Language and Culture in English and Mandarin. Their stated goal is a happy customer due to high quality products, fair prices, and great customer service. www.childbook.com

There are also a number of sites with Chinese children’s music in MP3 format. Most of them, however are in Chinese. Sites with English navigation help include:

The Internet Chinese Music Archive
http://www.ibiblio.org/chinese-music/html/children.html

Spring 2004 Registration Is Over

Come with your preschooler and have fun with Chinese in Mountain Lakes, Monday mornings at 9:30.

Or, let your elementary school child join us after-school for music and fun with Mandarin Chinese in Morristown. Music and movement are the keys to learning. Selected characters are also introduced.

Eight Wednesdays from 4 – 4:50 for $75, starting April 6th. Basic greetings, numbers and body parts will be introduced using American and Chinese classics such as “Two Eyes”, “I’m being swallowed by a” and “Mr. Wolf”.

Spring session for 2 – 6 year olds starts 4 April 2005, Eight weeks / $90. Introduce your child(ren) to Chinese with songs, poetry, games, and instrument play! Immersion and music and movement are the most effective ways to give your child another language. Let music and movement be the keys to learning in Musical Mandarin. Puppets, storybooks and flannelboards are also used to engage more senses.

Both designed to meet the learning needs of those not speaking Mandarin at home. (Mountain Lakes class is about 1 ½ miles from 287/80. Morristown class is near James & South Street.)

To register or for more information: email mus-mandarin@wubison.com or call Robin at 973-335-9645.

Advance notice: Spring is coming

Musical Mandarin Afterschool resumes April 6th for 8 weeks.
Wednesday, 4 - 4:45pm in Morristown, NJ

Introduce (or reintroduce) your child to Chinese in a fun setting. The focus remains on speaking and singing. After school sessions include some character recognition. This spring work on numbers and basic greetings will continue. Body parts will be intorduced with "Doctor, Doctor" and "I am being swallowed by an alligator".

Chinese for 2 – 5 year olds (& their adult)
Mondays 9:30 a.m. Mountain Lakes, NJ

Introduce your child(ren) to Mandarin with new and traditional Chinese songs, poetry, games and instrument play! Immersion and music and movement are the most effective ways to give your child another language. Let music and movement be the keys to learning in Musical Mandarin. Puppets, storybooks and flannelboards are also used to engage more senses. This year, the spring preschool session is $90 for 8 weeks in April and May.

Let us know if you want a Chinese name to use in class. If you already have a Chinese name, or know what it means but not how to say it, let me know too!

For any questions, please email: mus-mandarin at wubison.com

Chinese New Year information

For information on the Year of the Rooster and Chinese New Year celebrations, see my site at http://cny.blogspot.com/

Winter Session 2004 Has Begun!

Musical Mandarin Afterschool:
Wednesday, 4 - 4:45pm
for 6 - 12 year olds
Morristown, NJ

Introduce (or reintroduce) your child to Chinese in a fun setting. The focus remains on speaking and singing. After school sessions include some character recognition. Let us know if you want a Chinese name to use in class. mus-mandarin@wubison.com

Winter session begins in January
Chinese for 2 – 5 year olds (& their adult)
Mondays 9:30 a.m. Mountain Lakes, NJ

Introduce your child(ren) to Mandarin with Chinese songs, poetry, games and instrument play! Immersion and music and movement are the most effective ways to give your child another language. Let music and movement be the keys to learning in Musical Mandarin. Puppets, storybooks and flannelboards are also used to engage more senses.

This is not traditional immersion; but a specially designed program to meet the learning needs of those not speaking Mandarin at home. CD (or cassette) and lyrics included. Traditional Chinese and translated American favorite songs, poems, and stories are incorporated. Spring term includes “Frog Song”, “Life Cycle”, and Very Hungry Caterpillar. They support learning basics including greetings, animals, foods, colors, and counting. Topics vary each session.

Mandarin speakers welcome. No prior exposure to Mandarin is required. Don’t wait until it is harder for your child to learn another language. Call with your questions and arrange to visit a class or register now for the spring sessions of fifty-minute classes. $115 for the first child/adult pair; $60 for each additional family member. In Mountain Lakes, Mondays or Tuesdays at 9:30.

Mountain Lakes, NJ is right at the intersection of route 80 and 287. Class is straight off the highway about 1 ½ miles.

To register or for more information: email mus-mandarin@wubison.com or call Robin at 973-335-9645