冬至是中国传统二十四节气（the 24 traditional Chinese solar terms）中的第二十二个节气，英文表达为 "Winter Solstice"。
As early as the Spring and Autumn period more than 2500 years ago, China had already used Tugui to observe the sun and determine the winter solstice. It was the earliest of the 24 solar terms to be formulated, and this day was the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the year.
冬至当天，太阳几乎直射南回归线（Tropic of Capricorn），北半球将经历一年中最短的白天和最长的黑夜。
例
From then on, the days become longer and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year.
自此以后，白昼的时间变得越来越长而夜晚则会越来越短。冬至也标志着一年中最寒冷的季节的到来。
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As early as the Spring and Autumn period more than 2500 years ago, China had already used Tugui to observe the sun and determine the winter solstice. It was the earliest of the 24 solar terms to be formulated, and this day was the shortest day and longest night in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the year.
早在二千五百多年前的春秋时代，中国就已经用土圭观测太阳，测定出了冬至，它是二十四节气中最早制订出的一个，这一天是北半球全年中白天最短、夜晚最长的一天。
A family usually prepares dumplings or wontons for winter solstice in northern China.
中国北方的家庭通常会准备饺子或馄饨来过冬至。
In southern China，we usually offer sacrifices to ancestors and eat sweet dumplings.
在中国南方，我们通常会祭祀祖先和吃汤圆。
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英文表达为Winter Solstice
冬至当天，太阳几乎直射南回归线（Tropic of Capricorn），北半球将经历一年中最短的白天和最长的黑夜。
例
From then on, the days become longer and the nights become shorter. The Winter Solstice also marks the arrival of the coldest season in the year.
自此以后，白昼的时间变得越来越长而夜晚则会越来越短。冬至也标志着一年中最寒冷的季节的到来。
除了寒潮，冬至还是开启南北“饮食大战“的开关——饺子和汤圆，谁才是冬至的餐桌霸主？
冬至这一天，南北方的习俗确实大有不同，不过，更有网友直接放话：“我们的习俗是上班，你们呢？”
“冬至大如年”，在北方，民间盛行“冬至没饺子，耳朵会冻掉”的说法。
在英文中，我们最常吃的“水饺”用英文说是 boiled dumpling，而 rice dumpling 可不是“米做的饺子”，而是“粽子”的意思。
南方，冬至这天要吃“汤圆”，汤圆也叫汤团，“圆”意味着“团圆”“圆满”，冬至吃汤圆又叫“冬至团”，汤团馅料丰富，有甜有咸、有荤有素。这种习俗在江南地区尤为盛行，在潮汕地区，汤圆有“添岁”（aging）的含义，民间有一种说法是：“冬节丸，一食就过年民间有” 。