The winter solstice, one of the 24 solar terms in China, usually occurs on December 21 or 22 of the Gregorian calendar every year, and is also the beginning of winter. The arrival of the winter solstice means that the coldest period of the year is about to begin. In ancient times, people attached great importance to the winter solstice as an important festival, so there were many customs and traditional cultures related to it.
The origin of the winter solstice
The origin of the winter solstice can be traced back to ancient times, and it is said to commemorate an ancestor named "Zhi". In ancient times, it was believed that the winter solstice was an important solar term because it marked the beginning of the cold winter season. Therefore, people will hold a ritual on the day of the winter solstice to pray for good weather and abundant crops in the coming year.
Differences in customs between the North and the South
In the north and south of China, there is a big difference in the customs of the winter solstice.
Winter solstice customs in the north:
Sacrifice: The Winter Solstice Festival is also known as the Winter Festival and the Winter Festival. It is one of the 24 solar terms, is a traditional festival in China, there was a saying that "the winter solstice is as big as the year", the court and the people have always attached great importance to it, and there have been sacrificial activities since the Zhou Dynasty.
Eating dumplings: On the day of the winter solstice of the lunar calendar every year, dumplings are an indispensable holiday meal for rich and poor. As the saying goes, "On the first day of October, the winter solstice arrives, and every household eats dumplings." ”
Winter Solstice Customs in the South:
Eating glutinous rice balls: Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is a traditional custom in China, especially prevalent in the southern part of the Yangtze River. There is a folk saying that "one year older after eating glutinous rice balls". Tangyuan is also called soup ball, and eating soup ball on the winter solstice is also called "winter solstice group".
Eating rice cakes: The winter solstice custom of Hangzhou people is to eat rice cakes. From the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China to the present, Hangzhou people like to eat rice cakes on the winter solstice. In the winter solstice, I make three meals of different flavors of rice cakes, in the morning I eat the rice cake with sesame powder mixed with sugar, at noon I eat fried rice cakes with fried rice cakes with fried vegetables, winter bamboo shoots and shredded pork, and at dinner I eat rice cakes with snow mushrooms, shredded pork and shredded bamboo shoots. Eat rice cakes on the winter solstice, grow taller every year, and look auspicious.
Eat longan roasted eggs: Most people born and raised in Jiaxing choose to eat longan roasted eggs for the winter solstice. "Peel the longan you bought, boil it in water, boil the juice of the longan, beat it into the eggs, and add sugar to ...... according to your tasteIn addition, there is a custom of eating red bean glutinous rice on the night of the winter solstice in Pinghu, Jiaxing.
Eat red bean glutinous rice: In the Hunan and Hubei regions, you must eat red bean glutinous rice on the day of the winter solstice.
Why do you eat dumplings in the north
As for why northerners eat dumplings on the winter solstice, there is a theory that because the shape of dumplings is like ingots, which means "attracting wealth and entering treasure". In addition, dumplings are also an important holiday food, so people will eat dumplings on the day of the winter solstice to celebrate this important holiday. As for the reason why northerners eat dumplings on the winter solstice, it may be related to the eating habits and cultural traditions of northerners. In the north, dumplings are an important holiday food, so people will eat dumplings on the day of the winter solstice to celebrate this important festival. In addition, because the shape of dumplings resembles ingots, which means "fortune and treasure", people will also eat dumplings on the day of the winter solstice to pray for good fortune in the coming year.
In addition to the above reasons, there are some other theories. For example, some people say that the custom of eating dumplings has been passed down from ancient times, because in ancient times, dumplings were an important holiday food. Some people also say that the custom of eating dumplings is related to the "medical saint" Zhang Zhongjing, because he gave up the "cold and Jiao'er soup" to treat chilblains on the day of the winter solstice. Therefore, the custom of eating dumplings is also related to the commemoration of Zhang Zhongjing.
In conclusion, there are many theories about why northerners eat dumplings on the winter solstice, the most common of which are "fortune and treasure" and "festival food". Either way, it reflects the importance and inheritance of traditional culture by the Chinese people.
Smile] Eat dumplings and make a fortune!
Eat leek stuffing (Jiucai), eat cabbage stuffing (Baicai),
Eat celery stuffing (diligent wealth), eat sauerkraut stuffing (tie wealth).
Eat three fresh stuffing (Hecai), eat shepherd's cabbage stuffing (Jicai),
Leftover dumplings are eaten hot (keep money), and leftover dumplings are fried and eaten (pick up money).
I wish you a lot of money.
Flying cat, let love be connected, warm and accompanied.
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