It's winter solstice again

Based on astronomy data, winter solstice happen at 11.12am UTC, which is about 7.12pm Malaysia time. As everyone knew, the Mayan calendar ended today also, anyway, don't worry I believe is it a technical mistake on the calculation. So, just enjoy today.

I'm sick since Sunday with low fever and flu, didn't go see doctor since I believe they will charge you for few pieces of Panadol. I use my traditional way, which Sam didn't believe, cook a package of hot and spicy instant mee, after that take a Panadol, then do sleep with no fan, no air-cond, and balut yourself like a dumpling. Let it sweat and you will get better. Basically, I'm better now, but the bad weather really slow down the healing process. The only thing that make me feel bad is I can't go to see my daughter, she is with my wife's family since late last month due to my house renovation. Talk about the renovation, I believe it is going to complete soon, hopefully I got a new kitchen for my wife to cook, and new huge bed room for my daughter before Chinese new year.

And I got some photos for show off, hohoho

She just love me ^^

Today my mom is doing operation, hopefully everything going fine and wish her recover as soon as possible.

Yesterday I got my new fridge after nearly 3 months argues with Hitachi sales. Ok, here is my advice, never ever buy Hitachi product anymore. Their product quality is no longer like last time, and the after sale service is suck. For me this is the last time I buy Hitachi product and not for the next 10 years.

Dragon year is going to end soon, this year is an unstable year, it doesn't mean bad, but just more changes and your life is fluctuate up and down. Anyway, it is going to end soon, and the coming year is my zodiac year. Yes, I'm 36 by next year, getting old, and more and more people call me uncle.

So, end it here and wish everyone a happy winter solstice, go back home early today and enjoy a good dinner with your family.

Happy Winter Solstice

Today is winter solstice (冬至), one of the important solar terms (节气) in Chinese lunar calendar. In this day, it is the shortest day of the year for north hemisphere. Chinese believe that when we reached to the darkest end, it will be the beginning of the brighter side. Therefore we celebrate the longest night of the year and after this day, the sun will move towards north and the day will getting longer and longer from day to day.

Due to winter solstice is based on the sun instead of moon; therefore it is almost fixed every year between 21st - 23rd December. To calculate the exact day for winter solstice, we can use the following formula:

Winter solstice day = Y * D + C – L
Where,
Y is the last two digit of the year,
D is the a constant, which is 0.2422,
L is the number of lead year
And for C is another constant, for 21st century, C = 21.94 and for 20th century, C = 22.60.

For example, when is the winter solstice fell on 2009?
The answer is (9 * 0.2422) + 21.94 – (9 / 4) = 21.87. Therefore it is fell on 22nd Dec. 2009.
Based on the calculation, we will going to celebrate winter solstice on 22nd Dec. until year 2056 and start from year 2057 we will going to celebrate winter solstice on 21st Dec. Not sure I'm still there or not :)

Ok, now forget about this math and back to normal life.

Winter solstice is very important in Chinese culture and it is more important than Chinese New Year because it’s the beginning of the "bright side". Therefore, this day family members gather together and have a nice and warm dinner and follow by sweet dumpling (汤圆) as symbolic of reunion.

Once you ate the sweet dumpling, it mean, you are older another year :)
So, happy winter solstice and happy grow up.