Winter solstice is one of the eight festivals in a year. In ancient times, there was a custom of "eight festivals" to worship the gods and ancestors. Winter solstice is regarded as a big holiday in winter. There is a folk saying that winter solstice is as big as a year, so the ancients called it "sub-year" or "off-year".
In some coastal areas in southern China, the traditional custom of worshipping ancestors from the winter solstice is still continuing. In some areas of northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every winter solstice.
Extended data:
The solstice in winter is the shortest day in a year. After the winter solstice, the direct point of the sun gradually moves northward, and the days in the northern hemisphere gradually lengthen and the nights gradually shorten. Therefore, there is a saying that "eating the winter solstice makes the day longer."
In addition, the winter solstice begins to count to nine, and the winter solstice becomes the first day to count to nine. As for "Counting Nine", there is a folk song that goes like this: "Don't do it in September, walk on the ice in March and April, watch the willows along the river in May and June, open the river in July and September, geese come in August and September, and cows go everywhere in September and September."
References:
Baidu encyclopedia-winter solstice