Teh with his wife and daughter praying and offering tang yuan. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Paying homage to his departed loved ones during the Winter Solstice Festival is especially meaningful this year for sales personnel Teh Kok Seong.
The offering – tang yuan (glutinous rice balls served in syrup) – was lovingly prepared by his daughters Yee Qian, 15, and Xin Lei, nine.
“It’s always been a tradition for us to offer tang yuan as it symbolises family unity and harmony.
“In previous years, the tang yuan was bought or prepared by my sister. But this year, my daughters learned how to make them from their grandmother.
“This heartfelt gesture is not only about adding a personal touch to the ritual, but also about instilling in the younger ones the values of filial piety, respect and family cohesion,” said the 46-year-old when met at the Batu Gantong columbarium here yesterday.
Several columbariums here were bustling with families offering prayers to their loved ones during the festival, which is commonly known as dong zhi.
They came with tang yuan and other traditional offerings in the ritual, which underscores the cultural significance of family unity.
Paying respects: The Batu Gantong columbarium bustling with families offering prayers to their ancestors and loved ones during the Winter Solstice Festival.
Accounts administration executive Angeline Chang, 33, came to pay homage to her late father, Chang Yew Hon.
She was joined by her mother Lim Beng Looi, 56, and her uncle Jimmy Lim Beng Jin, 51.
“We’ve been coming here to offer prayers for my father ever since he passed away in 2007, both during the festival and on his death anniversary.
“There is a saying that dong zhi is more significant than Chinese New Year. For our family, honouring our ancestors during this time is an important tradition.
“It is a time when families take a moment to reflect on their roots, remember the past and prepare for the future,” Chang added.
According to Chinese belief, the round shape of the tang yuan symbolises completeness and wholeness.
In ancient times, the festival marked the time for the Chinese to store their harvest and prepare for winter.
Today, it has become a time for thanksgiving as Chinese families reflect on the blessings of the past year and pray for prosperity in the upcoming year.
The local Chinese community celebrates by making tang yuan with fillings such as red bean, peanut or sesame paste, served in a bowl of plain or ginger syrup.
The 2024 winter solstice, which marks the shortest day of the year (in terms of daylight hours) in the northern hemisphere, took place yesterday. It also signifies the first day of winter from an astronomical perspective.
