冬至 (とうじ) "the winter solstice"

When is the shortest day in your country?

In Japan, it is called 冬至(とうじ) "the winter solstice."

The date of 冬至 depends on the year.

It is on the 22nd of December and the sun will rise at 7:03 and set at 16:32 in Tokyo area this year (2019) .

We have traditional custom to eat pumpkins and take a bath called ゆず湯(ゆ) yuzuyu on the winter solstice.

Japanese pumpkin can make your skin strong and it prevents you from infections.
The most common recipe we make with pumpkin for the meal is simmered pumpkin, which is called かぼちゃの煮物(にもの).
The recipe is simple. You just simmer pumpkins with soy sauce, sake, mirin, water and sugar.
If you have sweet tooth like me, maybe you can make a pumpkin pie instead.

Yuzuyu is good for blood circulation and it makes your body warm. It also prevents you from catching a cold and strengthening the skin. Love the scent of citrons!

ゆず means citron.

湯(ゆ) means hot water.

It is said if you take a yuzuyu on the winter solstice, you will not catch a cold next year.

If you can get a Japanese Pumpkin and citrons at your local supermarket, why don't you spend this year's 冬至 by eating pumpkin and taking yuzuyu?

It's been getting cold, please be careful not to catch a cold!