Today is 立冬！（lì dōng) the Beginning of Winter!

Today is 立冬 （lì dōng) or the Beginning of Winter. It is the 19th of the 24 Chinese agricultural calendar terms, marking the start of winter! For us Seattlelites we may have noticed an significant increase in rain and stormy weather! 立冬is traditionally a time to enjoy the harvests of fall, make offerings to ancestors, eat dumplings, make wine and gather around a fire to drink tea with loved ones! In the natural world, this is a time when animals begin their winter hibernations and we start to see more bare branches! Stay warm and let's welcome the natural cycle of the seasons, Seattle!