如何跟外國朋友介紹冬至呢？
今天是冬至，你吃過湯圓了嗎？如何跟身邊的外國友人介紹冬至這個節氣、以及為何這天要吃湯圓呢？達仁留遊學提供您最佳解答喔！✿☺☮
The 24 solar terms, based on the sun's position in the zodiac, were created by farmers in ancient China to guide the agricultural affairs and farming activities. The 24 solar terms reflect the changes in climate, natural phenomena, agricultural production, and other aspects of human life, including clothing, food, housing, and transportation. The 24 solar terms play important roles and have greatly influenced people's basic needs in life, and they still have an important function nowadays.
24節氣是根據太陽在黃道「地球繞太陽公轉」的位置而定，最早先是由中國古代農民作為務農參考用的依據。24節氣可反映出氣候、自然生態、農作等與人們生活息息相關的事件，早期人們會根據24節氣來決定怎麼吃、怎麼穿，甚至是動土、搬遷等重要事件也都會根據節氣而定，時至今日24節氣仍與華人的生活息息相關。
Winter Solstice, one of the 24 solar terms, is an astronomical phenomenon .The daytime is the shortest and the nighttime is the longest of the year.
冬至是24節期之一，他同時也是個天文現象，這天是一年之中白天最短、夜晚最長的日子。
Winter Solstice was regarded as the starting point of a new year during the Zhou and Qin dynasties (1046 – 207 BC). The custom has persisted and people presently call it the Small New Year, when ancestor worshipping ceremonies and family reunions usually happen.
最早在周朝秦朝時期，冬至被認為是新的一年的開始，俗稱小過年。「過冬至」在當時就成了中國人的傳統：人們在冬至這天會返鄉祭祖、家庭團聚。
Today, it is observed with a family reunion over the long night, when pink and white tangyuan eaten in sweet broth to symbolize family unity and prosperity.
時至今日，冬至是家庭團圓的日子，家人們會聚再一起吃著象徵團圓及興旺的粉紅和白色的甜湯圓。
In Taiwan, we still keep the custom that eating Savory tangyuan in the Winter Solstice Eve. Sweet tangyuan come after ancestor worshipping ceremonies. Eating the tangyuan also means one has grown a year older.
台灣還有冬至前夕要吃鹹湯圓，祭祖玩後才能吃甜湯圓的習俗，吃完湯圓也象徵年長1歲。
最後，提供大家幾個重要的冬至單字：
- 24節氣 24 solar terms
- 冬至 Winter Solstice
- 湯圓 Tangyuan
- 薑汁 Ginger Syrup
- 糖水 Sugar water
- 糯米 Glutinous rice
- 黑芝麻餡 black gingili fillings
- 花生餡 Peanut fillings
