The legend of why we eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter.
The custom of eating glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter is almost common in Chaoshan area, but it also contains an interesting custom: after people worship their ancestors on this day, they will take out some sweet pills and stick them on their lintels, beams and rice jars. Why are you doing this? According to legend, there are two reasons: First, the sweet and round jiaozi is a good omen, which indicates another bumper harvest and family reunion next year. If a family can meet by chance on this day, just like the "water splashing festival" of ethnic minorities, it is a good sign.
If an outsider happens to visit on this day and let an outsider meet him, these outsiders will also have good luck. Therefore, people do not want outsiders to visit on this day. One is for mice. According to legend, the seeds of grain were bitten by rats from far away for farmers to plant. In order to repay the contribution of mice, farmers agreed to leave a small part uncut when harvesting every year for mice to eat. Later, because a greedy man harvested all the grains in the field, the mouse complained to Guanyin Bodhisattva in a rage. Guanyin Bodhisattva felt very sorry for her, so she gave her a pair of hard teeth and told her to move into someone else's house to find food in the future. Since then, rats have been doing evil everywhere. Become one of the "four evils" today. However, this common custom of "pasting jiaozi everywhere" will not last long after all. Not only unsanitary, but also unsightly and wasteful, it naturally dies out. And this custom of "eating jiaozi" has been passed down to this day.
The origin of eating glutinous rice balls in the south in the winter of solstice
Eating glutinous rice balls was established in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On the solstice of winter, it is necessary to "make dumplings" or "make dumplings". These are also officially recorded in historical materials. The history says that "on the winter solstice, powdered glutinous rice is a pill, which is called' glutinous rice balls'". After jiaozi is wrapped up, it is necessary to offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors, and then the whole family will eat around. This is called "adding years". Therefore, it is very old to eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter.
The ancients had a poem about eating dumplings: "Every family smashed rice to make dumplings, knowing that it was the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." Eating glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter is a traditional custom in China, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". Tangyuan is also called jiaozi, and eating jiaozi on the winter solstice is also called "jiaozi on the winter solstice"; Tangyuan can be used for ancestor worship or as a gift to relatives and friends.
Another explanation is that the winter solstice is the longest night in a year. On the solstice of winter, before dawn, women get up and make a fire to cook jiaozi. First, they worship their ancestors, and then the whole family sit around and eat jiaozi. Therefore, eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter means not only the gradual return of the sun, but also reunion. Modern people prefer to regard it as a symbol of perfection.
The implication of eating glutinous rice balls from winter solstice
1, convention
Eating glutinous rice balls was established in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On the solstice of winter, it is necessary to "make dumplings" or "make dumplings". These are also officially recorded in historical materials. The history says that "on the winter solstice, powdered glutinous rice is a pill, which is called' glutinous rice balls'". After jiaozi is wrapped up, it is necessary to offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors, and then the whole family will eat around. This is called "adding years". Therefore, it is very old to eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter.
2. Jiangnan style
Eating dumplings is a traditional custom from winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. "Tangyuan" is an essential food from winter solstice, and it is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is also called "the winter solstice group". There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older".
3. ancestor worship
The winter solstice group can be used to worship ancestors or give gifts to relatives and friends. In the past, Shanghainese were most particular about eating jiaozi. An ancient poem said, "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." . "Circle" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter symbolizes family harmony and good luck.
Step 4 reunite
Another explanation is that the winter solstice is the longest night in a year. On the solstice of winter, before dawn, women get up and make a fire to cook jiaozi. First, they worship their ancestors, and then the whole family sit around and eat jiaozi. Therefore, eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter means not only the gradual return of the sun, but also reunion. Modern people prefer to regard it as a symbol of perfection.