Midwinter

Midwinter, called “Toji”(冬至, とうじ) is the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year.

This year’s “Toji” falls on December 21st.
As it is believed that we have better fortune after “Toji”, there is a custom of eating pumpkins, and soaking ourselves in a yuzu hot bath (called 柚子湯, ゆずゆ) in order to avoid catching disease and survive the cold winter.

It is interesting that other Asian countries have a different custom. In the north part of China, they eat dumpling called Jiaozi, whereas dessert called “Tangyuan” is eaten in the south.
In Korea, they eat red bean porridge. In Vietnam, they eat their traditional rice cake.