I hope this helps.
For those in Taiwan, you can translate this into traditional Chinese at http://www.khngai.com/chinese/tools/convert.php. But keep in mind it’s not 100% accurate.
冬至
冬 至 课文 冬至是中国农历的一个节气，
The Winter Solstice is one of the lunar calendar’s solar terms.
自古以来人们就非常重视冬至这一天，
From ancient times people have considered this a very special day,
所以冬至不再是一个普通的节气，而成为一个重要的节日，人们称为“冬节”。
so it didn’t remain an ordinary solar term. Instead, it became an important festival, and people called it Winter festival.
冬节在中国的周代就已经有了。
Winter festival existed at the time of the Zhou dynasty.
在中国的北方，冬至吃饺子，因为饺子的形状像元宝，
In northern China, they eat dumplings at Winter festival because the dumplings resemble shoe-shaped gold coins
人们希望在以后的日子里可以赚到更多的钱。
and people hope they will be able to earn more money in the future.
南方的人会在冬至吃汤圆，希望团圆。
In the south people eat sweet rice ball soup in the Winter festival, hoping for a get-together with their family.
其中台湾地区的风俗更有意思，他们会用
Even more interesting is the custom in Taiwan. They use
糯米做成红色和白色的汤圆，叫做“冬至圆”，
sweet rice* to make sweet red or white rice balls called ‘Winter solstice rice balls.’
大小跟鸡蛋一样。
They’re about the size of an egg.
全家的床、窗、桌后面都要粘上一个冬至圆，
They stick them behind all the beds, windows and tables in the house
共同祈求明年的福气。
and pray together that the new year will bring good fortune.
今年的冬至是12月22日，那天你是想吃饺子还是汤圆呢？
This year the winter solstice is December 22.
那天你是想吃饺子还是汤圆呢？
Do you want to eat dumplings or sweet rice ball soup on that day?
* or glutinous rice/sticky rice
文化介绍
冬至，“冬”就是冬天，“至”是来了的意思，所以“冬至”就是说冬天已经来了。
The Winter Solstice is made of two words: Winter and arrive. So冬至 means Winter has arrived.
每年的冬至大约在12月22日或者23日，
Every year, Winter Solstice is roughly the on 22nd or 23rd of December.
冬至这一天对于北半球的中国来说，黑夜最长，白天最短。
For the part of China that’s in the northern hemisphere, the Winter Solstice has the longest night and shortest day of the year.
这天以后，白天就会越来越长，春天也就不远了。
After this day, the days will get gradually longer, and spring is just around the corner.
所以中国人自古以来就非常重视冬至这一天，
So, since ancient times, Chinese people have placed a great deal of importance on this day.
冬至成为重要的节日，民间称为“冬节”。
The winter solstice became a very important day, and became popularly known as the Winter Festival.
生词
1. 节气
（名）
jiéqì
solar term
注：中国的农历一共有24个节气，中国一直都是个农业大国，节气大部分都跟农业生产有关系，冬至是一年里的第21个节气。
China has long been an agricultural country and the solar terms are mainly related to agriculture. The Winter Solstice is the 21st solar term.
2. 重视
（动）
zhòngshì
think much of; emphasize; 觉得„„重要
例： ①只有重视人才，重视教育，国家发展才有希望。
A country can only hope to develop if it places value on the peoples’ talents and education.
②爸爸很重视我的英语成绩。
Dad really places a great deal of importance on my success in English.
3. 普通
（形）
pǔtōng
common 不特别的、一般的、
例：①我想我是个普通人，我不想得到那些。
I’m just an ordinary person. I don’t want to receive all of that.
4. 饺子
（名）
jiǎozi
jiaozi; dumpling; 一种吃的东西
5. 元宝
（名）
yuánbǎo
shoe-shaped gold，中国古代的钱
6. 赚
（动）
zhuàn
make (money)
例：
①开这样一个商店，一年能赚多少钱？
How much money per year can a shop like this make?
②做成了这笔生意，一定赚了不少。
You’ll earn a lot once you start up this business.
7. 汤圆
（名）
tāngyuán
sweet soup balls
8. 团圆
（名）
tuányuán
reunion; 一家人在一起
9. 糯米
（名）
nuòmǐ
sticky rice,一种米
10. 大小
（名）
dàxiǎo
size
11. 粘
（动）
nián
adhere; adhibit; 贴
例：糖粘在衣服上了。
There’s sugar stuck on the clothes.
12. 祈求
（动）
qǐqiú
impetrate
例：
① 妈妈每天祈求家人身体健康。
Mom prays everyday for her family’s health.
②她在神面前祈求平安。
He prays before God for peace.
基本句型
1. 自古以来人们就非常重视冬至这一天
“自古以来”，我们以前学过“„„以来”，
如：半年以来，就是最近半年的
(since the middle of last year, in the last 6 months.)
意思。自：从。自古以来，就是从古代到现在。例如：
① 中国自古以来就是一个农业大国。
China has been a leading agricultural nation since ancient times.
② 自古以来，春节就是中国人最大的节日。
Chinese New Year has been a very important festival in China since ancient times.