As with many modern celebrations, ancient festivals observing the winter solstice merged with newer traditions to create the holiday season as we know it today.
Certain stones in the ancient circle line up with the midsummer sunrise and the winter solstice sunset, marking the longest and shortest days of the year.
It is very difficult to obtain, as when the fruit ripens, on a full-moon night around the winter solstice, the fruit explodes as a mechanism to spread its seeds.
It's based on Earth's position in relation to the sun and the 21st is when we'll see the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year when astronomical winter begins.
It falls at the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring or vernal equinox, making it the ideal time to consider when springtime might finally come.
According to legend, during the midwinter feast 2,500 years ago, the King of Wu was disgusted with all kinds of costly foods and wanted to eat something different.
Historically on Dongzhi day, people went to the clan tombs to offer food and drink to their ancestor's spirits, clean the tombs, and work to maintain them.