There are still 2 days to go until the winter solstice, and we can't help but think of the old saying: "The winter solstice is at the end of the month, and the Spring Festival does not wear a jacket". So, in this winter solstice of 2024, can we really take off our heavy winter clothes during the Spring Festival with confidence?
The winter solstice, one of the 24 solar terms, symbolizes the shortest days and longest nights in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun's position in the sky is at its lowest. In China's rich cultural and historical traditions, the winter solstice is not only a significant astronomical phenomenon, it also carries a profound festival significance. Since the Han Dynasty, the winter solstice has been highly valued and is regarded as an important node for the transformation of yin and yang energy and the gradual recovery of yang energy.
The winter solstice is at the end of the month, and the Spring Festival does not wear a jacket" This sentence is actually a tradition of weather changes**. In ancient times, people observed the changes in nature and concluded that if the winter solstice came earlier, the weather during the Spring Festival would tend to be warmer. However, with the intensification of global climate change, is this traditional weather method still accurate?Modern science suggests that seasonal weather patterns are changing due to a warming climate, which could have an impact on these traditions.
No matter how the weather changes, winter wellness is always a topic that we need to pay attention to. There is a health proverb in traditional Chinese culture: "Three nines make up for one winter, and there will be no illness in the coming year", which not only highlights the extreme importance of winter to maintain good health, but also provides wise guidance for our lives. During this season, proper diet, proper exercise and adequate rest are the three cornerstones of wellness. For example, in winter, we should consume more foods that have a warming effect, such as lamb that nourishes the body, carrots that nourish the skin, and black sesame seeds that nourish the body. At the same time, moderate physical activity is equally important, which not only strengthens our physique, but also improves our resistance and keeps us healthy and energetic during the winter months.
On the day of the winter solstice, there are colorful Xi and beliefs throughout China. For example, northerners like to eat dumplings, which symbolize reunion and warmth;Southerners, on the other hand, tend to eat tangyuan, which symbolizes family reunion and sweetness. In addition, there is also a Xi of eating red bean glutinous rice in the Jiangnan area, which is believed to ward off evil spirits and diseases. These Xi not only reflect people's importance to the winter solstice, but also rich in profound cultural connotations.
In TCM theory, winter is considered the best time to nourish Yang Qi in the body. Therefore, in addition to a reasonable diet and exercise, many people also choose to use traditional Chinese medicine to nourish their bodies. For example, in winter, it is suitable to consume some herbs with warming and tonic effects, such as ginseng, angelica, etc., which can help strengthen physical fitness and improve resistance.
While many traditional Xi and beliefs are still cherished in modern society, they are gradually merging with modern lifestyles and scientific knowledge. For example, modern people pay more attention to scientific diet and healthy lifestyle, combining traditional health concepts with modern nutrition.
Modern climate change has had a significant impact on traditional agricultural proverbs and Xi. Traditional seasonal weather patterns are changing due to global warming, making it more difficult to rely on traditional knowledge for weather**. Therefore, while we follow traditional Xi, we also need to use modern technology to understand the weather and climate change more accurately.
In understanding and celebrating the natural phenomenon of the winter solstice, traditional beliefs and modern science can complement each other. Through modern meteorological science, we can more accurately ** weather changes, while traditional Xi and beliefs provide us with a cultural and spiritual sustenance. This combination of tradition and modernity not only enhances our understanding of natural phenomena, but also enriches our cultural life.