The winter solstice, also known as the southern solstice, the winter festival, the sub-year, etc., has both natural and humanistic connotations, which is not only an important solar term in the 24 solar terms, but also a traditional Chinese folk ancestor worship festival. The winter solstice is one of the four seasons and eight festivals, which is regarded as a big festival in winter, and there is a ** of "the winter solstice is as big as the year" in ancient folk. Winter solstice Xi customs vary from region to region and there are differences in the content or details of Xi customs. In southern China, there is a Xi of worshipping ancestors and feasting on the winter solstice;In northern China, there is a Xi to eat dumplings on the winter solstice every year.
The winter solstice is the 22nd solar term of the "24 solar terms", the yellow longitude of the sun reaches 270 °, and it is handed over on December 21-23 of the Gregorian calendar every year. The winter solstice is the extreme southward of the direct sun's point, the day of the winter solstice, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun's light is the most inclined to the northern hemisphere, the height angle of the sun is the smallest, it is the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere. The winter solstice is also the turning point of the direct sun's return to the north, after which it will go "back", the direct sun point begins to move north from the Tropic of Capricorn, and the days in the northern hemisphere (China is located in the northern hemisphere) will increase day by day. After the winter solstice, the climate in various places has entered the coldest stage, that is, people often say "into the nine", our people have "cold in Sanjiu, hot in Sanfu" saying. Modern astronomical science has determined that on the winter solstice, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, and the sunlight is the most inclined to the northern hemisphere, the northern hemisphere has the shortest day and the longest night, and after this day, the sun gradually moves north.
On the day of the winter solstice, the northern and southern regions of China have their own eating Xi.
In the northern region of our country, the traditional diet of the winter solstice includes dumplings, wontons, mutton, etc. Especially in winter, people in the north like to eat hot dumplings to ward off the cold and keep them healthy. In addition, on the day of the winter solstice, there is also a Xi of eating wontons in some places.
In the southern part of China, the winter solstice has the Xi of eating rice balls and long-line noodles. Tangyuan is a traditional snack made of glutinous rice, with a mellow appearance, meaning reunion and happiness. Long noodles are one of the traditional noodle dishes in the southern region, also known as "Shou noodles", which means longevity and health.
In addition to the above-mentioned dietary Xi customs, there are some other traditional Xi customs of the winter solstice.
In many parts of our country, the winter solstice has the Xi of worshipping ancestors. People return to their hometowns on this day to pay homage to their ancestors and express their respect and gratitude to their ancestors.
In addition, on the day of the winter solstice, some places will also have the Xi of eating traditional foods such as pumpkin and sugar gourd. These foods not only have a unique taste, but also have nutritional value and health benefits.
In addition, the winter solstice is also one of the traditional farming solar terms in China, and there will be farming-related activities in some places, such as sacrificing to the god of the land.
In general, the winter solstice is one of the important traditional festivals in China, not only food and Xi customs, but also other forms of traditional Xi customs, these Xi customs also reflect China's rich regional culture and traditional culture.