Today is December 21st, the day with the shortest daytime and the longest night. This year, the winter solstice comes a day earlier than usual. I like this kind of day, a turning point. Starting today, we begin counting the "nine periods". After going through these eighty-one days, winter will be over. Therefore, the number "eighty-one" has been endowed with the symbolism of the reversal of yin and yang. After these eighty-one days, things will take a turn for the better. Hence, in ancient China, there was a saying that the Winter Solstice Festival is as important as the Spring Festival. On this day, people in the north eat dumplings while those in the south have tangyuan (glutinous rice balls). Both are celebrations of reunion...