*** UPDATED 2023 ***

*Reader’s Note : The 24 solar terms* are a ‘code of living’; assisting us in living in tandem with seasons and beat to our internal circadian rhythm. The Ancient Chinese knew nothing of the Southern Hemisphere when making their astrological calculations. However, anyone experiencing the opposite season at the time of reading could consider reading the 10th Solar Term for its cultural customs, gardening, dietary suggestions and climate cues. Please Note - We practice authentic Classical Feng Shui, so regardless of your domicile, ‘FENG SHUI’, ‘CHINESE MONTH’ & ‘ZODIACAL ANIMAL’ observations below will remain as per dates below.

The pinnacle of Winter is upon folks domicile in the Northern Hemisphere when the 22nd Solar term commences on Winter Solstice (22 December 2023), marking the beginning of the “Extreme Winter” node. When the North bids the Sun adieu in favour the longest night, the South heralds the zenith of the Sun and welcomes the opposing Solstice. The Sun ingresses into zodiacal sign of the mountain Goat, Capricorn on 22 Dec. followed by a Full Moon on 27 Dec. This lunation marks the 12th lunar month as depicted in Asian paintings by the pairing of a falcon, pine tree and a wren. A month also known to Ancients Chinese as ‘Preserved or Meat Month’.

☼ 22nd SOLAR TERM :: Winter Extreme Solstice (Dong Zhi 冬至)

Solstice’s are ubiquitously observed among many cultures, but it mainly refers to a single day occurrence. However, when referring to the 22nd Solar Term - Dong Zhi - it’s applied in a broader sense to a 14 day period of time, collectively referred to as ‘Winter Solstice’ or ‘Extreme Winter’.

The sun reaches the celestial longitude - it’s apparent position on the ecliptic - of 270° in the sky. The actual first day of the nodal shift is the shortest day of the year in the N. Hemisphere thereafter daylight will gradually grow longer and nights become shorter. Globally festivals herald the return of the sun, like the traditional ‘Dong zhi’ in China and Yuletide in Northern Europe. In times past this festival was just as significant as CYN and remains one of the most important solar terms.

The Chinese almanac system also further subdivides the seasonal terms into more detailed increments of time, known as the 72 Material Manifestations (wuhou). The first of the five day divisions in this seasonal term is called ‘Earthworms Congeal’ (Qiuyin jie). The second is ‘Moose Deer Shed Their Horns’ (Mijiao jie) ending the solar term with the final wuhou of ‘Aquifers Churn’ (Shuiquan dong). The Manifestations are a nod to *phenological cues that indicate Winter. Interestingly in the opposing 10th solar term (Summer Solstice) ‘Lujiao jie' occurs, which translates to 'Deer Shed Their Horns', leaving the seasonally famous Reindeer crowned in horns for Christmas.

🌐 IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

Geographically the Southern Hemisphere folks circadian rhythm shall be beating to the opposing season of Winter — that of Summer —and the 10th Solar term known as ‘Summer Solstice’. Read the 10th solar term for customs and seasonal climate ques.

👥CROSS CULTURAL CUSTOMS

The 24 Solar Terms, as the name suggests places emphasis on ‘Solar’ observations. The Terms collectively mark the movements of the sun (solar path) in the sky. So it stands to reason then the 22nd solar term of ‘Winter Solstice’ was regarded as the most important term of all 24 - heralding the return of the sun into the sky.

Regarded also as the starting point of a Chinese New Year during the dynasties between 1046 – 207 BC. The custom persists and Chinese people refer to it as ‘Small New Year’, and older Chinese people believe they are a day older on the December Winter Solstice- instead of waiting until the Lunar New Year. Elders are deeply respected and the tradition of buying or making shoes and socks for seniors is also routine; in order to keep seniors warm and extend their longevity. Speaking of respect and longevity, it’s a Solar return of sorts for Bovines, as cows get a day off from working the fields on this day. The roots of this tradition began in Taiwan.

Family reunions dinners are commonplace, as is devotion and piety of one’s Ancestors. It’s believed the famous ‘Temple of Heaven’ in Beijing was constructed for veneration of ancestral ceremonies. Tombs of the dead are tended to and Joss money burned at this time. In Celtic lore the Celt’s also honoured the dead at this time. Celebrated the rising of the Winter Sun, which rises due South-East, via a rather sophisticated astrological architectural calendar, namely Newgrange in Ireland. They believed in re-incarnation and the East, especially the SE, where after the Winter Solstice, the sun seems to be re-born or to rise out of the underworld.

The Dongzhi Festival observes a tradition called ‘counting nine nines’. Due to a mathematical equation where the duration of Winter is divided into nine sets of nine days, totally 81 days with the Winter Solstice the beginning the first set of nine nines. Folklore notes climatic lore conditions of the landscape, farming practices and customs of each specific nine-day, counting down to Spring.

Customary dietary foods include dumplings, wontons, red bean Rice, mutton soup and Glutinous Rice Balls. And as the Ancients referred to the month as ‘preserving month’ as winter foods are preserved during this period.

🌿GARDENING

Note : Also refer to our Monthly Lunar Gardening Almanac for times, phases and signs in your hemisphere. And the Chinese seasons commence 1½ months before the comparative seasons in the Western Calendar.

Winter gardening in more about planning for a good harvest than planting; depending of course on your domicile and severity of frost etc. But in the main, working on soil quality is key. One of the nine nines proverbs is ‘A timely snow promises a good harvest’. Gardens are naturally watered due to the thawing of snow. And the aforementioned wuhou of ‘Aquifers Churn’ speaks to an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock providing groundwater laced with yet more minerals.

The stoic Pine tree is known as one of the friends of Winter to Chinese folk and when pine is illustrated on fine scrolls it denotes the 12th lunar month. Symbolic of longevity, solitude and steadfastness; as pine needles grow in pairs, it’s also a symbol of married bliss. The pine tree is often see in graveyards, as are cypress trees as they live to a ripe age! It’s timber was used by the Egyptian to fashion coffins. While pine tree essential oil is believed to assist with the grieving process. And if you have a pine cone gathered at the time of the opposing solar term - Summer Solstice, with its seeds in tact, then it’s said to hold magical properties.

The Poppy is sometimes depicted as an emblem of the 12th lunar month. But personally Mistletoe evokes December memories. Common in Celtic circles and especially favoured by the Pagans and Druids when found growing by an Oak tree. Steeped in lore the tradition of harvesting on the opposing Solstice of Midsummer’s eve, or cut when luna is six days old.

In Australia the Nuytsia floribunda is the Christmas tree, a parasitic tree of the mistletoe family and native to western Australia. It grows up to 10 m and produces lush yellow-orange flowers during the Christmas season.

As ever, check out our Feng shui consult pages for information about our services.

ⓒ FENGSHUIISM 2023 - Originally written in 2018, updated in 2023

“Living eye to eye with environmental wisdom ”

— FENG SHUi iSM

* The relevance of the ancient Chinese Almanac and the 24 Solar Terms (or seasonal nodes, as they are sometimes referred to), were not only for agricultural purposes; individuals took cues from the Nodes and adopted various seasonal diets and exercise. Calculated via the sun's annual motion, they discern the year's change in season by way of phenology, climate and the tilt of the sun varying shadow length on the ecliptic to decipher a season.

Phenology, is one of three methods used to decipher seasons - it uses the changes in plant and animal behaviour - such as animal migration, types of plants, and changes in colours in the landscape - to determine when the seasons begin. The Chinese seasons commence 1½ months before the comparative seasons in the Western Calendar. The 24 solar terms are used to insert leap (intercalary) months in the Chinese calendar to keep it in sync with seasons.