As the year winds down and the holidays continue, many students, faculty and staff at Case Western Reserve University are reflecting on their own seasonal traditions, whether they’re celebrating with family back home or creating new memories with friends here in Cleveland.
This December, we’re sharing some of the diverse holiday traditions of our international community members, several of whom offered a glimpse into how they celebrate the season and the importance of these customs in their lives. From festive feasts to cherished family get-togethers, these traditions bring comfort and connection—no matter how far from home they may be.
Read on to learn how they’re making the most of the holidays.
Xiaoqi Yu
Advisor and assistant dean, Undergraduate Advising Support Office
The Winter Solstice Festival or Dongzhi Festival (冬至, Dōngzhì) is one of the important traditional Holiday traditions around the globe: How the CWRU community celebrates that has been celebrated since Han Dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), and like most other Chinese festivals, it is a time for families to get together, worship their ancestors, and feast on an array of traditional delicacies.
Dongzhi roughly translates to “winter’s arrival” in Chinese. The festival celebrates the start of winter. The Winter Solstice Festival has its origins in the Chinese concept of yin and yang, a belief of harmony and balance. According to this belief, when the days are short, there is insufficient Yang energy, which is why during winter solstice, it’s common to consume foods that are more yang (warm) in nature to counteract the yin (cold) of winter, such as lamb, dumplings. Other popular dishes during this time include mutton hotpot, and eight mixed-grain porridge (also called eight-treasure porridge).
In Northern China, one of the commonly eaten foods during Dongzhi is jiaozi (饺子, jiǎozi), fatty dumplings containing meat and high Yang warming herbs, such as ginger and garlic. My family is from Shanghai, Southern China, I enjoyed the tradition of the whole family making and eating tangyuan (汤圆, tāngyuán) together. Tangyuan are small balls made of sticky rice flour which are filled with sweetened red bean or sesame paste, or savory meats with ginger and garlic served in a bowl of either sweet or savory broth. Tangyuan symbolise a family unit and prosperity and its pronunciation is similar to tuányuán (团圆) which means reunion. It was super fun when I was growing up because in my mind, I was making edible play doughs of various shapes with my mom and grandma.
Nivedita Srinivasan
Undergraduate student studying biology
In my family, holidays like Christmas and New Year’s are recognized and enjoyed in essence, but the main tradition we truly cherish is taking a mini family vacation together each year. Right after the excitement of Diwali at the end of fall, we plan a week-long getaway within or outside Dubai, where we can spend uninterrupted time together. This trip is a chance for us to explore a new place, navigate unfamiliar cities, and experience different cultures, all while reconnecting as a family. This year, we started the new year in Istanbul, Turkey, the year before we had a hotel staycation in a different part of Dubai, and one year we traveled to Georgia and Armenia. These moments of laughter and conversation remind us of what’s most important and leave us recharged and ready to start the new year with fresh energy. It’s now definitely become a tradition, and it’s what has inspired my love for travel and discovery.
Erum Jang
Undergraduate student studying biology
Every winter break, my family and I travel to Gangneung, a city located in Gangwon Province on South Korea’s eastern coast. Famous for its fresh seafood and breathtaking sunrises, Gangneung is a beloved destination for locals and travelers alike. During the winter season, many travel to Gangneung and the city comes alive with festive winter celebrations. Here, visitors can try catching winter fishes and even bring them home. Not only this, but one of our family’s favorite activities in Gangneung in winter is riding rail bikes along the scenic coastline, where we can enjoy the crisp ocean air and the beauty of the winter sea. Lastly but most importantly, we love watching the sunrise on the beaches of Gangneung, wishing everyone a safe and peaceful year ahead.