Like!中国节 --- 立冬

大家好，今天是立冬，Start of Winter.  

The original meaning of the Chinese character 冬 is 终, the end.

It indicates that we’re about to welcome the final season of a year.

There is a saying 立冬补冬，补嘴空, which means it’s essential to eat nourishing food to keep up our health in winter. For instance, chicken, duck, beef, mutton and fish are usually stewed with some herbs to make it easier for the body to absorb the nutrients. Though it might surprise you, another type of food is also a great option, 饺子，dumplings, which are rich in nutrition.

Well, you might think that eating dumplings is quite common, but the custom has something to do with Dr. Zhang Zhongjing. At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which was about 1,800 years ago, Zhang saved many from a typhoid epidemic and their ears from being frostbitten around the Start of Winter. Zhang cooked mutton, hot peppers and herbs to dispel cold and increase body heat. He also wrapped these ingredients into a dough skin and made them into an ear shape, which later became known as “dumplings”.  Today, there is still a saying 立冬不端饺子碗，冻掉耳朵没人管. 

Now, it’s less than 100 days from the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Athletes from all over the world will be competing in snowboarding, curling, speed skating, alpine skiing and many more events.

Though we cannot participate in the games, we can do winter sports to stay fit, 冬泳 winter swimming. 立冬一日，水冷三分。Water temperatures drop rapidly after start of winter. Winter swimming is a test of mental will, and winter swimming enthusiasts believe it’s a good way to improve circulation.

Here in Shanghai, if you are willing to try it the Jiading Winter Swimming Club can help. A lot of veteran winter swimmers will share their tips. And…remember to warm up afterwards and have a warm drink. Stay active, stay healthy.

立冬至，愿你冬日不寒，日日温暖。