Time and life keep moving forward. The Winter Solstice marks the start of longer days, signaling that spring is on its way. Today is the Winter Solstice, the day with the shortest daylight and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Recognized as the first solar term by our ancestors, it signifies the onset of seasonal shifts.

天时人事日相催，冬至阳生春又来。今日冬至，北半球各地白昼最短，黑夜最长的一天。在二十四节气中，古人最早认识冬至，由此确定了季节转换的起点。

On the Winter Solstice, people in the north eat dumplings, while those in the south enjoy glutinous rice balls. The rising steam carries warmth and joy. The flour and glutinous rice flour transform into something special in the hands of artisans.

冬至这天，北方吃饺子，南方吃汤圆，蒸腾的热气承载着生活的温馨，做饺子和汤圆用的面粉和糯米粉在匠人指尖也幻化出新的“生命”。

​Dough figurines in China have been documented since the Han Dynasty and were an important daily item during the Southern Song Dynasty. These creations add both visual appeal and culinary delight. Dough figurines have been passed down for thousands of years as gifts, decorations or symbols in festivals and ceremonial events, carrying the marks of history and the warmth of tradition.

中国的面塑最早在汉代就有文字记载，南宋时期，面塑是一种重要的生活用品，形态各色的面塑不仅供人欣赏还丰富了人们的餐桌。面塑作为仪礼，岁时等民俗节日中的馈赠，装饰信物或标志，经过几千年的传承，积淀了历史的风尘与时代的温度。

The ancients said, "The Winter Solstice is the prelude to spring." A cup of warm tea and a piece of dough figurine convey the subtlety and depth of Chinese culture, looking forward to the coming of spring.

古人云：“冬至节，春之先声也。”一盏暖茶，一件面塑，诉说着中华文化中那份细腻与深远，遥望着春日的到来。