cherry turnover: who do you live with?
bananas foster: do you believe in soulmates?
glazed donut: would you rather visit a zoo or an aquarium?
pumpkin pie: what were your interests as a child?
lemon tart: how many languages can you speak?
chocolate mousse: how is your relationship with your parents?
creme brûlée: describe your style
cheesecake: have you ever visited a sex shop?
raspberry sorbet: favorite clothing stores?
green tea ice cream: who was your first crush?
chocolate chip cookie: how has your life changed over the past year?
berry trifle: first & last concert you went to?
tapioca pudding: favorite animated characters?
fudge brownie: do you like your name?
strawberry shortcake: are you good at keeping secrets?
tiramisu: are you daring when it comes to makeup & clothing or do you like to play it safe?
oreo milkshake: do you sleep a lot?
apple crisp: how do you relax?
carrot cake: who is your celeb look alike?
macaron: what is your ethnicity?
cinnamon bun: favorite salty snack?
red velvet cupcake: ask any question of your own

eight-immortals:

今年冬至是2017年12月22日！！！

The winter solstice festival was originated from the Han Dynasty (202 BC – 220 AD) and thrived in the Tang and Song dynasties (618 – 1279). People in the old times attached great importance to the festival. 

冬至民俗 Custom

祈福

祈求与消除锅中的疫疾，减少荒年与人民的饥饿与死亡。

贺冬

In Han Dynasty, the festival is regarded as the Winter Festival and people had one day off for the holiday. Officials organized the ceremonies to celebrate the day and people visited each other with delicious food. 

祭祀

During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the day was to sacrifice to the heaven and the ancestors. The emperor usually went to the suburb for worshiping to the heaven. The common people prayed at the tombs of their ancestors and deceased relatives on the day.

冬至饮食 Food 

饺子 

谚语云：“十月一，冬至到，家家户户吃水饺”

The dumpling is the essential food for people in northern China. After the winter solstice, it will become colder and colder. By eating dumplings, people think they can avoid their ears from being frostbitten as the dumplings look like people’s ear.

The story:

Zhang Zhongjing (150-219), is a famous physician in Eastern Han Dynasty. He was once an official in Changsha. When he returned home to private life, he saw people lived a very hard life and their ears were red with cold in the snowing winter. He was very sad and let his disciple cook to drive out the chill with mutton, hot pepper, and some medicine. Zhang let him boiled them first and minced them, then wrap them with flour. After boiling, he gave the food to the people there. By eating this kind of ear-like food, people’s ears were all cured. Later, every winter solstice, people cook such kind of food which was called dumplings to avoid ears from being frozen.

(Photo from: http://www.top-news.top/news-12667820.html)

馄饨

过去北京有“冬至馄饨夏至面”的说法。

（Photo by: 湯興漢） 

吃羊肉

冬至吃羊肉的习俗据说是从汉代开始的。相传，汉高祖刘邦在冬至这一天吃了樊哙煮的羊肉，觉得味道特别鲜美，赞不绝口。从此在民间形成了冬至吃羊肉的习俗。现在的人们吃羊肉以及各种滋补食品，以求来年有个好兆头。

汤圆

汤圆是冬至必备食品。“圆”意味着团圆，圆满，冬至吃的汤圆又叫“冬至团”。

(Photo from: http://travel.newsgd.com/default.php?act=article&id=2027)

江南米饭

在江南水乡，有冬至之夜全家欢聚一堂共吃赤豆糯米饭的习俗。

Having a meal made of red-bean and glutinous rice is also popular for people in southern China. By eating it, people think ghosts and evil things can be driven away.

(Photo from: http://a.mini.eastday.com/a/171222120458528-3.html)

苏州酿酒

姑苏地区有俗语云：“冬至如大年”。相传的姑苏人家，会在冬至夜喝冬酿酒，冬酿酒是一种米酒，加入规划酿造，香气宜人。

（Photo: http://zhongyi.health.sohu.com/20140107/n393005070_2.shtml）

江西麻糍

麻糍，是浙江，江西的特产，也是福建人的传统小吃。

（photo from: http://www.yalipex.com/news/show-260.aspx)

台湾糯糕 

在台湾还保存着冬至用九层糕祭祖的传统，用糯米粉捏成鸡，鸭，龟，猪，牛，羊等象征吉祥中意福禄寿的动物，然后用蒸笼分层蒸成，用以祭祖，以示不忘老祖宗。

（content source: 古典书城）