A ceremonial sacrifice to heaven is held at Daming Ruins Park in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Dec 22, 2014. [Photo/cnwest.com]

A solemn ceremonial sacrifice to heaven was held at Daming Ruins Park in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on winter solstice day, also called the Dongzhi Festival, which fell on Dec 22 this year.

The rite used to be a grand sacred ceremony performed during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907), but thereafter disappeared in the following dynasties.

It was performed by ancients to pray for God to provide good weather and a good harvest, as well as to show their worship for heaven and nature.

In folk culture, the Dongzhi Festival is usually associated with eating certain foods. In North China, people eat dumplings and wontons, while in South China, people eat rice balls and glue pudding.

According to the folklorists in China, with the transition from an agriculture civilization to an industrial civilization, the cultural connotations of the traditional Chinese festivals have been weakened or even disappeared, leaving only memories of the connection to the food.

As one of the grandest festivals in ancient China, there was a saying that went, "The Winter Solstice is as significant as the Spring Festival".

The purpose of holding the rite is to make more people understand the ancient sacrificial rite and attach more importance to the inheritance of Chinese traditions.