Hello everyone, I'm Wang Yangxin, and today I want to share with you a topic about winter solstice dumplings. You may ask, why do you eat dumplings on the winter solstice? What is the special meaning and story of eating dumplings on the winter solstice? How is it inherited and developed? Don't worry, I'll answer them all for you.
First of all, we must understand that the winter solstice is a very important solar term in China, and it is also a traditional festival. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the longest night, and it is also the southernmost point of the Tropic of Cancer when the sun shines directly on the Earth, marking the official start of winter. In China, the winter solstice is regarded as one of the important solar terms, with a long history and rich cultural connotations. People eat traditional foods such as tangyuan and dumplings on this day, which symbolizes reunion and warmth. At the same time, there are also places where festivals are held to pray for good weather and abundant crops in the coming year.
So, why do you eat dumplings on the winter solstice? The origin of this custom is said to be to commemorate Zhang Zhongjing, a medical saint in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Zhang Zhongjing is a native of Nanyang, and he is the author of "Treatise on Typhoid Fever and Miscellaneous Diseases", which is the foundation work of traditional Chinese medicine and has been regarded as a classic by doctors throughout the ages. Zhang Zhongjing famously said: "If you enter, you will save the world, and if you retreat, you will save the people; It cannot be a good look, but it should also be a good doctor. "He once served as the Taishou of Changsha, visited the sick and administered medicine, and practiced medicine in the lobby. Later, he resolutely resigned and returned to his hometown to treat his neighbors. When he returned to his hometown, it was winter. He saw that the villagers on both sides of the White River were yellow and thin, hungry and cold, and many people's ears were frozen and rotten. He asked his ** to set up a medical shed in Nanyang Dongguan, set up a cauldron, and gave up the "cold Jiao'er soup" to treat chilblains on the day of the winter solstice. He boiled mutton, chili peppers and some herbs in a pot, then took out the mutton and medicine and chopped them, and made them into ear-like "Jiao'er" bread, and after cooking, he gave two "Jiao'er" and a large bowl of broth to each person who came to ask for medicine. People ate "Jiao'er" and drank "cold soup", and their whole body was warm, their ears were hot, and their frostbitten ears were cured. Later generations learned the appearance of "Jiao'er" and wrapped it into food, which is also called "dumplings" or "flat food". Eating dumplings on the winter solstice is to not forget the grace of the medical saint Zhang Zhongjing, but also to prevent the cold and keep warm, and to dispel illness and strengthen the body.
In addition to commemorating the medical saint, eating dumplings on the winter solstice has some other meanings and customs. For example, dumplings are shaped like ingots, and eating dumplings symbolizes wealth and good luck. The filling of dumplings is also particular, generally using warm foods such as mutton, leeks, and cabbage, which will help warm the sun and ward off the cold and enhance resistance. In some places, dumplings are also wrapped in dates, peanuts, sugar and other desserts, meaning sweet and happy. In some places, there is also the importance of eating dumplings, such as eating nine dumplings, which means that ninety-nine are one and everything is complete; Or eat 12 dumplings, which means that 12 months will be safe and smooth. When eating dumplings, they should also be accompanied by vinegar, chili, garlic and other seasonings to increase the flavor, and also have the effect of removing the smell and relieving greasyness and promoting digestion.
Eating dumplings on the winter solstice is a traditional custom of the Chinese and a cultural symbol. It contains the admiration for the saint of medicine, the love of life, the desire for family, and the expectation for the future. On this cold day, let's make dumplings together, eat dumplings, and enjoy warmth and happiness!
Well, that's all for today's sharing, I hope you can like this article, and I hope you can have more interest and understanding about eating dumplings on the winter solstice. If you have any questions or suggestions, please leave a message in the comment area, and I will reply to you as soon as possible. Thank you for reading and see you next time!