The winter solstice, as one of the traditional Chinese solar terms, has rich cultural connotations and unique customs. And among these customs, eating dumplings is undoubtedly the most well-known. So, how did the custom of eating dumplings originate?Let's take a look.
According to historical records, the custom of eating dumplings can be traced back to the ancient "Jiao'er". During the Eastern Han Dynasty, Zhang Zhongjing, a medical saint, was very distressed when he saw that the villagers' ears were frozen in the cold winter. He stewed mutton, chili peppers and other ingredients into soup, and then mixed it with some cold-dispelling medicines, and distributed it to the villagers. He wrapped the lamb in the dough and the medicine, shaped like an ear, which is called "Jiao'er". The villagers ate Jiao'er and drank soup, and the frostbite on their ears slowly healed. This was the prototype of dumplings.
With the passage of time, the custom of eating dumplings has been passed down gradually. During the Tang and Song dynasties, dumplings gradually evolved into a delicacy, not only used for chilblains, but also became a delicacy on people's tables. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, with the development of the economy and cultural exchanges, the production process and taste of dumplings have been continuously innovated and improved.
Nowadays, eating dumplings has become an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture. On the day of the winter solstice, every family will make dumplings and cook dumplings to share the joy of food with their families. The shape of the dumplings is like ingots, which means that the source of wealth is extensive;And because its shape resembles "Jiaozi", it also has the meaning of "good luck". In the northern region, people are accustomed to eating dumplings on the day of the winter solstice, while in the southern region, more attention is paid to eating dumplings during the Spring Festival.
In addition, the ingredients and flavors of gyoza are also varied. Various meats, vegetables, seasonings, etc. can be added according to personal taste. For example, pork and green onion filling, leek egg filling, celery beef filling, and so on. Different ingredients and flavors make the taste and nutritional value of dumplings also different.
There are different kinds of dumplings in various seasons and regions in China, such as sour soup dumplings in Sichuan, shrimp dumplings in Guangdong, pot sticker dumplings in Jiangsu, and so on. These different tastes and practices also fully demonstrate the breadth and profundity of Chinese food culture and regional characteristics.
In general, the custom of eating dumplings originated from the ancient "Jiao'er", and has become an indispensable part of traditional Chinese culture after historical evolution and innovation. It's not just a cuisine, it's a cultural and emotional heritage. On the day of the winter solstice, let's make dumplings and cook dumplings together, and share the deliciousness and warmth with our families!