Tangyuan 1
Eating jiaozi on the winter solstice, also known as the "winter solstice group", is particularly popular in the south of the Yangtze River. According to historical records, this custom existed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the old society, Shanghainese paid the most attention to eating glutinous rice balls, which meant "perfection" and "reunion", symbolizing family harmony and auspiciousness. The winter solstice group can also be used to worship ancestors and give gifts to relatives and friends.
2. Reunion dinner
Shanghainese pay special attention to the solstice in winter. In the old days, the big family had a winter worship ceremony, and they wanted to go to Ximen Wanshou Palace to worship cards. In the evening, people will build a pavilion to offer sacrifices. This pavilion is called the "Winter Solstice Pavilion". After the sacrifice, family members have a reunion dinner and say auspicious words, so there is a saying that "something to eat, eat day and night in winter, and freeze all night". On the solstice night in winter, ordinary people get together to have a big meal, and a large table is full, chatting while eating and pushing cups and hairpins, which makes them feel very happy.
Affection, friendship and love are connected and deepened between cups and needles. One year's contradictions vanished unconsciously, and one year's estranged family ties and indifferent friendship were rekindled.
3. Sweet white wine
Sweet liquor is a kind of fermented liquor and a famous specialty of Changzhou. It takes rice, corn, millet and other food crops as raw materials, which are soaked or boiled in clear water, then steamed thoroughly, sprinkled with sweet distiller's yeast, drenched with a little cold water, stirred evenly and placed in a warm and dry place. In summer, sweet liquor can be made in 1-2 days; In winter, it takes about 3-5 days to become sweet white wine.
4. Flower cake
In the past, Shanghainese used to cook sweet white wine and glutinous rice balls at family banquets on the solstice in winter, and newly steamed flower cakes were also essential seasonal foods. Flower cake is made of rice flour, bean flour, etc. It is fermented with jujube, chestnut, almond and other fruit capsules and steamed with sugar.
5. Red bean glutinous rice
Legend has it that in ancient times there was a son who worked together, ignorant and evil. Later, he died on the winter solstice. After his death, he became a plague ghost to harm the people. However, this ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook red bean rice on the solstice in winter to drive away ghosts and evil souls. This tradition has been passed down.
Baidu encyclopedia-red bean glutinous rice