The beginning of winter is the nineteenth of the 24 solar terms and the first solar term of winter. In China, the significance of the beginning of winter is not only a turning point in the climate, but also a festival full of rituals. According to their own regions and Xi customs, each region has formed a rich and colorful winter customs. Although the customs and food vary from place to place, they all revolve around the same theme, which is to pray for an auspicious New Year, family reunion, and good health.
Dumplings are the most common food in the winter season in northern China. The shape of the dumplings is round, symbolizing reunion and happiness. On the day of the beginning of winter, every family will wrap a pot of steaming dumplings and share them with family and friends to celebrate the arrival of winter. Dumplings are rich and varied, ranging from meat to vegetarian, which is both delicious and nutritious.
Tangyuan is a traditional food in the southern region during the beginning of winter. The rice balls are white in color and sweet in filling, symbolizing family harmony and happiness. Eating glutinous rice balls means that the family is reunited and the beginning of a better life. Southerners also give dumplings as holiday gifts to relatives and friends as a way to express good wishes.
At the beginning of winter, the temperature gradually decreases, and the body's resistance will also decrease. Therefore, many places have the Xi of eating lamb hot pot in the winter. Mutton is warm in nature, and has the effect of nourishing yin and nourishing the kidneys and strengthening the body. The steaming heat of the hot pot can dispel the cold, increase the heat of the body, and make people energetic.
In the north, sweet potato porridge is a common food in the beginning of winter. Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber and a variety of nutrients, which can help digestion and promote intestinal peristalsis. Drinking a bowl of hot sweet potato porridge can both nourish the body and ward off the cold.
Persimmon pepper is a seasonal vegetable in the beginning of winter. Persimmon pepper is bright in color and rich in vitamin C and carotene, which has the effect of improving immunity and enhancing physical fitness. On the day of the beginning of winter, eating a plate of persimmon peppers can not only replenish nutrients, but also make the body energetic.
In general, the food of Lidong varies according to the region and Xi, but it all symbolizes people's good wishes and expectations for the New Year. In this festive season, whether it is dumplings in the north, dumplings in the south, or mutton hot pot to ward off the cold, it is people's yearning for a better life and wishes for a happy family. The beginning of winter is not only the turning point of the season, but also people's expectation for a better life.