Winter Solstice is considered an important day for family temple praying, usually called as ‘ChihZu’(eat ancestor’s food) or “Relative Recognition” by which family members scattered all over places can get acquainted with one another for better family agglomeration.    On Winter Solstice, one of traditional 24 Feasts, the day is shortest and the night is longest, with folk say of “Three feet long between evening and dawn”.  In the past, agricultural families used to make rice “Chicken & Doggie” six-fowl shapes, including chicken, duck, goat, dog, and bull, and rice coin shapes in Winter Solstice Eve; and prepare rice balls and vegetable stuffed buns offered to family god  next morning to pray for prosperity and safety.  Eating red and white rice balls, so called as “Winter Solstice Ball”, means one year older and safe going.

In the early morning of Winter Solstice, “Chicken & Doggie” coin shapes, rice balls, vegetable stuffed buns, and paper money are prepared for offering to Family God.  The date of “Banquet Before Ancestors” is decided according to local customs, some in Winter Solstice Eve, some on Winter Solstice Day,  or some during holidays to facilitate traveling-out members back for ancestor worship.   Family male will gather in family temple in the morning to offer ancestors with meals, alcohols, and paper moneys, and once completion enjoy the meals in temple.  With social development, in recent years some small amounts of temples open for women’s participation in the festivals.

Take Taxi or SiYu or Tong Liang lines from MaGong City to BaiSha