Fewer things sound more depressing than the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. But did you know that it’s actually a holiday (albeit a short one) for our students in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan?

On that note, we’ll:

• Explain why this holiday is even a holiday.
• Share relevant questions you can ask to spark conversation with students whether or not they observe it.
• Introduce vocabulary (bolded) you can teach your students to help them better express themselves when talking about this topic.

💡 Tip: “Solstice” (pronounced sol-stiss) is a difficult word for learners to pronounce, not to mention remember. So when we introduce it, we can hint that “solstice” starts with the prefix “sol-,” which means “sun.” (Just think about the word “solar”!) Then, you can connect this to the fact that the solstice is the day with the least sunlight. 

Why Celebrate the Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice is the day with the longest night and the shortest day, and it usually falls on December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere. 

• How do you plan to spend the winter solstice?

The winter solstice is actually celebrated in many cultures around the world, including in the East Asian countries that our students call home.

• Why do you think the darkest day of the year is a holiday in your culture?
• Is the summer solstice also a holiday? What about the spring and autumn equinoxes?

However, since it’s still the dead of winter, people make sure to brace themselves for the cold, and many of the practices we’re about to mention have become winter solstice customs.

• For students in cultures that do not observe this holiday: I hear the winter solstice is a holiday in certain cultures. What do you think about this? What similar holidays exist in your culture?

Winter Solstice Customs

People in East Asia have many traditional ways to spend this darkest day of the year in preparation for the rest of winter. 

• What do people do on the day of the winter solstice? Where do you think these customs come from?
• What traditional foods do people in your country eat for winter solstice?

In Japan, some people take baths with “yuzu”, a citrus fruit similar to a pomelo or grapefruit. This custom is apparently four centuries old! We can’t show you pictures of people bathing, but here’s something way better: capybaras in Japan happily carrying out this tradition!

• Why do you think people bathe with yuzu? Do people bathe with other foods or flowers too?
• Does the hot water cook the yuzu? Can you still eat the yuzu after bathing with it?
• What else do you use yuzu for?
• I saw a video of capybaras in Japan soaking in a hot bath! Have you seen this in person before? Do other animals also do this? Do you think pets might also be interested in taking a hot bath?

It’s time for one of our students’ favorite topics of conversation: food! While we all know it’s important to keep our immune systems strong, this concept is an integral part of traditional health beliefs in East Asia. In fact, there are foods that are considered to boost immunity and keep people from getting sick.

In Japan, one of these foods is the Japanese pumpkin. These pumpkins are thought to be nutritious and a good way to prevent colds. (As a Serbian member of our team says, “Pumpkin is the non-tropical country’s banana.”)

• Are there different types of pumpkins in your country? Are they all edible?
• Do you eat the pumpkins cooked, pickled, stewed, or processed in any other way? Tell me about some popular pumpkin dishes you know!
• I read that pumpkins are believed to prevent colds. Do you know how this works? And are there any other foods that help prevent colds?

In Taiwan, it’s common for people to eat “soup balls,” which are like little mochi balls. Many are filled with something sweet. 

• Do you plan to eat soup balls on winter solstice? Why? Why not?
• Are soup balls always sweet?
• What’s your favorite kind of soup ball? I heard that they can also be deep-fried.
• What are soup balls made of? And what’s in the broth?

Soup balls are traditionally eaten with family on special occasions. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and completeness. However, these days, you can get them all-year-long! 

• On what other occasions do people eat soup balls? Why do you think they are eaten on special occasions? 
• Can you eat soup balls when it’s not a special occasion?
• Do you make soup balls at home? Do restaurants serve them?
• What does the soup ball symbolize?

Some soup balls are also colored red, an auspicious color in East Asia. Speaking of which, in Korea, it’s a tradition to eat red bean porridge (which sometimes also has soup balls), because it’s red and considered good for one’s health:

• I heard it’s a tradition to eat red bean porridge for the winter solstice. Is it still common to do this?
• Tell me about this red bean porridge. Is it sweet or savory? 
• How do you make red bean porridge? 

Check out this video to learn more about red bean porridge and how winter solstice is traditionally spent in Korea.

For More Inspiration

Finally, if you want even more ideas for your next free-talk lesson, check out these Daily News articles:

• How to Protect Your Skin in Winter
• Do You Know This Blizzard of Winter Words?
• Health Benefits of Cold-Weather Workouts

👋 That’s it for now!

We hope this post has (literally) given you a taste of what winter solstice is like in our students' countries. Bon appetit and happy tutoring!