Winter Solstice (冬至 )
The Chinese has a lot of festive celebrations and Winter solstice or fondly known as Dong Zhi is one of the important festivals apart from Chinese New year. The ancient sages made use of their astrology knowledge and through observation, they realise that during this day (Winter Solstice) Winter will be finishing soon as the daytime will last longer after this day. Therefore there will be a lot of celebrations going on to welcome spring. That’s why there is a saying of Dong Zhi Yi Yang Sheng.
Apart from the weather forecast, it is always said that Dong Zhi is greater than Chinese New year. I am sure a lot of readers may be heard from the elderly folks saying without celebrating Dong Zhi you are not to celebrate Chinese New Year.
This is because based on records Dong Zhi originates from Zhou and Han dynasty. At that time, their calendar system would recognise this day starting of a new month and consider this as a Chinese New Year. After the unification done by Emperor Qing, even with the new calendar system, commoners still celebrate Dong Zhi as if it was their Chinese New Year, therefore at that time, it was like a pre-New Year celebration before the actual New Year starts under the new calendaring system.
Such celebration continues and it became grander during Song dynasty. At that time Dong Zhi is considered a major festive system where the Emperor will take this opportunity to offer prayers to the heavens and hope that heaven will bestow his country and people with good weather and improved harvest.
These chain of celebrations evolved to a habit for the Chinese to pray our ancestors and deities at our own home as well. As such this is how I derived the saying of Dong Zhi is more important event than Chinese New Year. Dong Zhi symbolises reunion as well, all members of the family come together to prepare the offerings.
In terms of Chinese Metaphysics, some masters have this practise that they would have placed the next year Feng Shui ornament on this day since this a major shift of energy. Apart from Feng Shui, thanksgiving offering to Tai Sui should be done on this day as well. This marks a way of appreciating the yearly Tai Sui has provided you a blessing for the past one year.
Having doubts on praying Tai Sui? You could send you enquires to info@cmcentre.sg
CM Centre would take this opportunity to wish all our readers a blessed Dong Zhi!
過冬至
華人節日眾多，除了華人過年以外，冬至也算是僅此於華人過新年的一個重要節日。古大德透過觀天的知識而得知，冬至過後白天一天比一天長，（陽氣慢慢回升的意思）所以人們也大勢的慶祝這天的到來。故言冬至一陽生的說法。
除此之外，也有人說，冬至圓，冬至大如年。而且本人也相信讀者們也跟本人小時也是聽 過長輩說沒有過冬就沒有過年類似的說法。
原來，冬至的源於是從周朝到漢初開始，當時因為當代的歷法都以冬至月份為正月（歲首），所以以往都是以此節日為過年。後來秦始皇改制以後，人民還是習慣把冬至當過新年來慶祝。所以也有人稱冬至為過小年。而到了宋代開始，冬至猶如過年。以冬至為亞歲。（僅此於過年）在這個期間必定有很多盛大的慶祝節目。而其中一環為賀冬（算是國家大典），皇帝會在這時候辦祭天儀式。祈求風調雨順，國泰民安。
這也慢慢演變成我們往往在冬至在家拜祭祖先和神明的一個環節。想必也因為以往的典故，會有冬大過年的講法。冬至除了迎接新的一年以外，也因為跟家人聚在屋簷下準備食材來拜祭祖先和神明。也象徵了團圓。
除了這些典故的由來。以玄學的角度來說，有些人會說在冬至時分安排新的一年的風水物品的說法。除此之外，也有很多人在此日之前拜值年太歲。所謂，年頭做福，年尾還神。年尾不是陽歷的十二月，而是冬至的意思。所以每當大家有祈求太歲庇佑時可別忘了答謝神明哦，最低限度要在立春之前答謝。
若有答謝太歲這方面的疑問可以電郵至 info@cmcentre.sg 玄學館。在此借助這機會恭祝各界冬至愉快齊家團圓樂融融。