December 22 this year is the annual winter solstice, which is not only one of the 24 solar terms, but also an important folk traditional festival.
There is a popular saying among the people: "The winter solstice is like the New Year", which shows how much people attach importance to the winter solstice solar terms. In order to celebrate the winter solstice, various agricultural activities are held. Everyone must keep in mind the "eight customs and four taboos" in order to spend the winter safely and happily.
01.The winter solstice that is "rare to see in eighty years".
The winter solstice usually takes place on December 21-23 in the Gregorian calendar, when the Sun reaches 270° of the ecliptic. On this day, the sun's altitude angle is the lowest of the year, and the tilt is severe. This means that the Northern Hemisphere has the shortest hours of daylight, "short days". The Long Night reached its peak.
In different places, the winter solstice has many different names. In ancient times, it was called "Rinan", "Solstice", "Nanri", "Big Winter", "Little Year", etc., from the Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was called "Early Winter". a certain day of the year". or "divided into years", which is enough to explain the importance of the winter solstice solar terms.
This year's winter solstice is December 22, and last year it was also December 22, and some people may disagree. What's surprising about the same date on the winter solstice? In fact, it is very rare for two consecutive winter solstices to coincide and has never happened in the past 80 years. Therefore, this year's winter solstice is called "once in 80 years".
Generally, the winter solstice occurs in the "middle of the month" or "end of the month" of the lunar calendar, but this year's winter solstice is on the tenth day of the 11th month of the lunar calendar, that is, it occurs at the "beginning of the month". month", which is also very rare.
In fact, the winter solstice is a traditional festival in ancient times. It was created by people to commemorate the "medical saint" Zhang Zhongjing. It turned out that this day was the coldest day of the year, and the yin energy was the most abundant, and the yang energy was born. In order to make the people pay attention to health, Zhang Zhongjing invented the medicinal diet "Jiaoer Soup" to help everyone get rid of colds.
In order to commemorate Zhang Zhongjing, later generations positioned the winter solstice as the "Holy Doctor's Day" and held various celebrations.
There is a folk saying that "the winter solstice is like the New Year, and there are many traditional taboos". So, what are the traditional customs and taboos of the winter solstice? Let's take a look.
02."8 Customs" to remember during the winter solstice
Spring Festival is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese people. During the Spring Festival, tourists who are away from home rush home to reunite with their families and celebrate the festival together.
However, for a long time in ancient times, there was a saying that "the winter solstice is like the New Year". So what are the customs of the winter solstice?
1. Sacrifice to ancestors.
There is a cloud in "Zhou Li": "On the winter solstice, gods, men and ghosts are sent to the sky!" It can be seen that as early as ancient times, the emperor attached great importance to the winter solstice, and would organize the ministers of civil and military affairs to go to the countryside to hold a ceremony to worship the heavens, praying for a bumper harvest and the peace of the country. For the country and the people.
For the common people, the winter solstice is the time when the yin qi is the strongest, and this day is also the closest day to the underworld. People also hold rituals to worship their ancestors, hoping that the ancestors will bless the safety and health of the family and pray for good weather in the coming year.
2. Eat dumplings.
Winter solstice dumplings summer solstice noodles", dumplings have a very high status among northerners. Especially on the day of the winter solstice, dumplings are a very important food. On this day, almost every household will make dumplings and eat dumplings.
If you don't eat dumplings on the winter solstice, no one will ask if your ears will freeze. This refers to the importance of eating dumplings on the winter solstice. On the day of the winter solstice, the weather is already very cold. Eating dumplings warms up the body and prevents frostbite from the cold.
Of course, the shape of dumplings is similar to ingots, so eating more dumplings has the meaning of "attracting wealth and entering treasure". Many people also wrap coins in dumplings. Whoever eats the most coins will be the most blessed in the coming year. People.
3. Eat glutinous rice balls.
In the south, there is a custom of eating rice balls on the winter solstice, and rice balls are also called "Lantern Festival". Eating tangyuan together as a family symbolizes reunion, harmony and happiness. Many shopping malls also hold zongzi eating competitions to make the festival even more fun. Colorful.
When eating rice balls, the older you are, the more rice balls you eat. If you are 18 years old, you will naturally eat 18 rice balls. There is also a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls makes people a year older". After eating the rice balls, you will be a year old the next day.
When eating glutinous rice balls, it is also important to eat "even numbers". Even if your age is odd, you should eat an even number of glutinous rice balls. After all, odd numbers represent loneliness, and the coming year will be lonely, while even numbers represent reunions, happy families, and pairs.
Tangyuan is not limited to glutinous rice balls. It can be prepared according to personal taste. Salty glutinous rice balls are made with minced pork and a variety of side dishes. They are shaped like a round ball with a small tail.
4.Free shoes and hats.
"Notes on Ancient and Modern China" has a cloud: "There were embroidered mandarin duck shoes in the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Zhao ordered his uncles and aunts to visit on the winter solstice!" This means that on the day of the winter solstice, nephews and nephews will buy shoes for their uncles and aunts as gifts.
However, in the later development of customs, uncles and aunts would give shoes to their nephews on the day of the winter solstice to express their support for their younger generations.
As for shoes and hats for gifts, general embroidered birds for girls, and generally embroidered beasts for boys.
5.Tonic and warm-up.
The winter solstice is already very cold, so many people will eat supplements to keep warm. The most common nourishing food is lamb. After all, mutton is warm. Eat more in winter to keep your whole body warm.
In addition, lamb is rich in protein and low in fat. Eating more can replenish qi and blood and keep out the cold. Many people will cook mutton and radish soup so that they can keep warm no matter how cold it is.
Of course, some people will drink a bowl of ginger soup. Ginger soup is also a warm food. Drinking a bowl of ginger soup can warm up the body and dispel cold, improve the body's resistance, and enhance yang energy. When boiling ginger soup, you can also add tonic substances such as longan and red dates.
During the winter solstice, some areas in the south have the custom of eating glutinous rice. On this day, steam a pot of fragrant rice and share it with neighbors, relatives and friends.
It is also very suitable to drink laba porridge in the cold winter. Laba porridge is composed of a variety of ingredients such as red beans, peanuts, and glutinous rice, which can nourish and warm the body.
Of course, winter swimmers will also swim in the ice and snow to exercise, which can not only enhance physical fitness, but also better protect against the cold.
6.Draw nine.
After the winter solstice, "ninety-nine" has also arrived, and the folk have the traditional custom of "ninety-nine to eliminate the cold". It is essentially a unique calendar, with a total of 81 units, corresponding to the 81 days of "ninety-nine".
Starting from the winter solstice, it is "one nine" for nine consecutive days, followed by .
Two. Nine, thirty-nine ......Ninety-nine, exactly eighty-one days, every day that passes, a stroke is drawn on it. When all the paintings are completed, the nine days will be over, and spring will come.
In addition to painting nine, people will also put up window flowers on the day of the winter solstice to pray for a happy and harmonious life in the new year. There are many different materials and patterns for window grilles, but most of them express good wishes.
In some places, Zhong Kui statues are hung, hoping that Zhong Kui can ward off evil spirits and bless his family with health and longevity.
7. Eat bacon and drink winter wine.
In many areas in the south, such as Sichuan, Hunan and other places, there is a custom of marinating bacon. During the winter solstice, many people will take out the marinated bacon to reward themselves, and this plate of bacon on the table symbolizes the new year. Able to rise step by step.
Of course, bacon is fat but not greasy, thin but not firewood. The taste is unique, especially when eaten in a rice pot, and the aroma fills the room.
There is also the custom of drinking winter wine in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. At the beginning of winter, every household brews glutinous rice wine, which can be enjoyed during the winter solstice. Glutinous rice is nourishing, and winter wine is naturally nutritious and can activate muscles and bones. Drain out cold air.
8. Enjoy plum blossoms.
Count plum blossoms in the corner, Ling Han blooms alone" refers to the scene of plum blossoms blooming in winter. The ancients had many descriptions of plum blossoms, and many people even used flowers as a metaphor to express the noble character of not being afraid of power and disobedience.
In fact, the plum blossoms are already in bloom at the winter solstice. Enjoying plum blossoms at this time can add a lot of fun to winter and add a bit of beauty to the boring winter. Although the winter is cold, many people will brave the cold to go out to enjoy the plum blossoms and learn their perseverance.
03.Don't forget the "Four Taboos".
1.Avoid going back to your parents' house.
The winter solstice is a day of reunion. This is a good day for a family reunion. It is not advisable to travel far or go to parents' homes for reunions.
Moreover, the outside temperature is cold during the winter solstice, and it is easy to get sick or encounter danger when going out on this day.
2.Different rooms.
The winter solstice is a lunar year, and couples are not sexually different. "As mentioned earlier, the winter solstice is the time of year when yin qi is at its strongest. At this time, Yang Qi is the weakest, the nights are the longest, and the days are the shortest. If sexual life is carried out at this time, it is not conducive to the harmony of yin and yang.
3.Avoid opening up markets.
The winter solstice was very important in ancient times. On this day, families are busy reuniting and celebrating the holiday. Even when the market is open on this day, few people go shopping. But today this taboo is no longer necessary, and the market will still be open.
4.Avoid going out at night.
The winter solstice is a day of ancestor worship and reunion. Everyone spends time at home, and few people go out at night.
Folklore has it that the "yin qi" is the strongest on the night of the winter solstice, and it is not advisable to go out, otherwise it will be unlucky and the body will be sick. Therefore, try not to go out after 9 p.m. and go to bed early. Otherwise, it is easy to lose the balance of yin and yang, and poor mental health.