The winter solstice is an important solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. In the north, the winter solstice has a unique way of celebrating and a rich cultural connotation. It's a day when families get busy preparing a variety of delicacies to celebrate this important day.
1. The history and legend of the winter solstice.
The winter solstice, also known as the "Winter Festival" and "Greeting Winter", is an important solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and one of the traditional festivals of the Chinese nation. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,500 years ago, China has used Tugui to observe the sun and determine the winter solstice, which is the earliest of the 24 solar terms, and the time is between December 21 and 23 of the solar calendar every year.
There are many beautiful legends about the winter solstice. One of the most famous is the saying that "eating dumplings on the winter solstice does not freeze your ears". According to legend, when the medical saint Zhang Zhongjing resigned and returned to his hometown, he saw that the villagers were hungry and cold, and many people's ears were frozen. He felt pity, so he set up a medical shed, set up a large cauldron, and cooked a medicinal meal called "dispelling cold Jiao'er soup" with mutton, chili peppers and some cold-warding herbs. After eating this medicinal diet, people feel warm, their ears are hot, and their frostbitten ears are cured. Later, in order to commemorate Zhang Zhongjing, people would eat dumplings every winter solstice, hoping that their ears would no longer be frozen.
2. The food culture of the winter solstice.
In the north, the day of the winter solstice has a rich gastronomic culture. Every family prepares a variety of delicacies to celebrate this important day. Among them, dumplings are one of the most representative delicacies. People will get up early on this day, mix noodles, chop stuffing, roll skins, make dumplings, and spend this wonderful time in a family sitting together, laughing and laughing. In addition to dumplings, people also eat wontons, glutinous rice balls and other delicacies, which symbolize reunion and happiness.
In addition, in some areas of the north, there is also the custom of eating "winter solstice noodles". It is believed that eating noodles on the day of the winter solstice will lead to a long and healthy life. As a result, many families cook a bowl of hot noodles on this day to pray for their family's safety and health.
3. The celebration of the winter solstice.
In the north, there are many other celebrations on the day of the winter solstice. Among them, ancestor worship is an important link. People pay homage to their ancestors on this day to express their respect and nostalgia for their ancestors. In addition, there are also places where the Winter Solstice Festival temple fairs are held, where people dress up in festive costumes and gather to enjoy various performances and amusement activities.
Fourth, the folk customs of the winter solstice.
In the north, the winter solstice also has some unique folk customs. For example, in some areas of Hebei, people will eat "winter solstice meat" on the day of the winter solstice, which means to keep warm and welcome the arrival of the new year. In some areas of Shanxi, people will draw the "Ninety-Nine Chilling Map" on the day of the winter solstice, using nine nine characters to represent the nine nine days after the winter solstice, that is, the twenty-eighth to the eighty-first day of the winter solstice of the lunar calendar. In addition, there are places where activities such as kite flying and snowman building are held on the day of the winter solstice to add to the festive atmosphere.
5. Modern ways to celebrate the winter solstice.
As the times change, so does the way people celebrate the winter solstice. Nowadays, in some cities in the north, people participate in various celebrations on the day of the winter solstice, such as the Winter Solstice Cultural Festival, the Winter Solstice Food Festival, etc. These activities not only make people feel the charm of traditional culture, but also inject new vitality into modern life.
In conclusion, the winter solstice is a very important traditional festival in the north. On this day, people celebrate this important day in various ways to express their yearning and pursuit of a better life. At the same time, this festival also carries rich cultural connotations and historical traditions, allowing people to better understand and cherish their cultural heritage.