昨天是二十四节气中的冬至。

冬至是中国传统二十四节气中的第二十二个节气。冬至当天，太阳几乎直射南回归线，北半球将经历一年中最短的白天和最长的黑夜。

　　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.

　　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。

俗话说“冬至大如年，数九过寒冬。”冬至的到来意味着一年中最冷的“数九天”就要来啦。除了cold，“冷”还能怎样表达呢？

　　Winter Solstice is a time for the family to get together. One activity that occurs during these get togethers (especially in the southern parts of China and in Chinese communities overseas) is the making and eating of Tangyuan or balls of glutinous rice, which symbolize reunion.

　　冬至是家族团聚的一天。在这天，中国南方的家庭会包汤圆、吃汤圆，以象征团圆的意思。不过在中国北方，似乎更多的人会吃饺子。比如说会有“冬至到，吃水饺”这样的谚语。

　　Particularly, in Northern China, people generally eat dumpling on the Winter Solstice , a custom signifying a warm winter. Extended family members may gather together to make dumplings. In Northern China, dumplings are commonly eaten with a dipping sauce made of vinegar and chili oil or paste, and occasionally with some soy sauce added in.

　　尤其是在中国北方，人们通常在冬至那天吃饺子，这是一个意味着温暖冬天的习俗。大家庭的成员可以聚在一起包饺子。在中国北方，饺子通常是蘸醋、辣油或酱汁吃的，有时还会加点酱油。

　　Dumplings may be prepared using a variety of methods, including baking, boiling, frying, simmering, or steaming, and are found in many world cuisines.

　　饺子的制作方法多种多样，包括烘烤、煮沸、煎炸、煨制或蒸制，世界上许多菜系都有饺子。