冬至特輯 Part 2
紅白湯圓的前世今生
Why is tangyuan red and white?
古時候以農立國，秋天農忙
結束後，整個冬天沒事了，老祖先有時間思考如何製作美味點心
。
In ancient time, China built up its country based on agriculture. After the harvest in fall, people had nothing to do in winter, so they had time to think how to make delicious snacks.
冬至是一年日照最短的日子，接下來日照逐漸變長，形成一個交接時刻，是個吉日，值得慶祝。
The daytime is the shortest on Winter Solstice and it lasts longer and longer after that day. It’s a turning point, and our ancestor thought it’s a good day and worth celebrating.
紅白湯圓也意味著陰陽交替。此外，紅湯圓表示吉祥，白湯圓象徵潔淨。
Red and white tangyuan symbolizes the alternation of “Yin” and “Yang”. Besides, red tangyuan represents “good fortune”; and white tangyuan stands for “purity.”
禁忌 [Taboo]
湯圓須為雙數 Tangyaun should be even number
紅白湯圓至少各一顆且為偶數，象徵著「成雙成對」。同時，紅湯圓代表桃花
，白湯圓代表人緣
。
You need to have at least one red and one white tangyuan and must be even number, since that symbolizes “in pairs”. In addition, red tangyaun also represents “being more charming” and white tangyuan stands for “having good interpersonal relationship.”