In Singapore, where enduring Chinese customs are still prevalent, Dong Zhi, or the Winter Solstice Festival, is a significant celebration. groups from different backgrounds participate in Winter Solstice celebrations, however, Chinese ethnic groups are the most likely to do so. Despite not being an official holiday, this day is still a significant cultural occasion in Singapore.
Winter Solstice in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026:
| Year | Date | Day | Holiday |
| 2023 | December 22 | Friday | Winter Solstice |
| 2024 | December 21 | Saturday | Winter Solstice |
| 2025 | December 22 | Monday | Winter Solstice |
| 2026 | December 22 | Tuesday | Winter Solstice |
These dates are estimated. We will update this page once the official announcement is out.
Six weeks before the Chinese New Year, which is widely observed in Singapore, is the Winter Solstice. Due to Singapore’s location at one-degree latitude above the equator, the shortest day of the year there is just around eight minutes shorter than the longest.
Families may venture out on this day to view public decorations or attend festivities, but the holiday is primarily celebrated at home. “Tang Yuan” is the traditional name for the main course. It is a type of pea soup with sweet, cooked rice dough balls in it. The pink balls are said to bring luck, whereas some of the balls are white and some are.
The customs associated with the Winter Solstice continue to exist in Singapore even though there isn’t much of a “winter” or significant seasonal shift there.
Singapore often experiences its winter solstice on December 21st or 22nd. It’s crucial to remember that Singapore is quite close to the equator, thus the variance in daylight hours throughout the year is far less than it would be in areas with more distinct seasons.
The sun is at its lowest position in the sky at the winter solstice when the Northern Hemisphere has its shortest day and longest night of the year. Due to Singapore’s tropical position, this phenomenon is less noticeable there and the change in daylight hours between the solstices is not as noticeable as it is in more temperate areas. The city-state often has very constant day lengths all year round.
Instead of the astronomical shifts related to solstices, Singapore’s traditional festivities frequently focus on cultural and religious celebrations.
