Happy Winter Solstice!

The shortest day of the year has arrived once again, and we're "celebrating" in local style tonight by soaking in a tub-full of yuzu-yu (ゆず湯), or hot bathwater infused with Japanese yuzu citron.

Another 冬至 (touji, or winter solstice) tradition we are following this year is the inclusion of pumpkin in some part of our dinner. I've been given different explanations by different people for this particular culinary habit, but most of them center around either a power to ward off colds or special value as a high-nutrition vegetable that keeps through the winter.

Anybody else have plans for this pagan holiday?