The winter solstice is also called "off-year". First, it shows that the year is approaching, and the New Year is just around the corner when the winter solstice arrives, so the ancients thought that the winter solstice was as important as the New Year. The second is to show the importance of the winter solstice. The winter solstice has both natural and humanistic connotations. It is not only a natural solar term, but also a traditional festival to worship ancestors.
In the winter solstice festival, due to the characteristics of solar terms, "the sun shines on the winter solstice, and the sun shines on the heavens and the earth", the ancients thought that since the winter solstice, the sun shines on the heavens and the earth, and the sun shines on the heavens and the earth, so the ancients regarded the winter solstice as an auspicious day and sacrificed gods and ancestors on the winter solstice, forming a festival custom.
Extended data:
The custom of the winter solstice:
1, pay homage to ancestors and settle wages.
There is a proverb in Shaanxi: "The winter solstice is as big as a year, and you will not give money if you don't take a vacation." The winter solstice is like a festival, and the owner refuses to rest. " In other words, the winter solstice is as important as the Chinese New Year, and students and long-term and short-term workers are given holidays.
In the past, people who worked as domestic helpers used to settle their wages with their employers on the Winter Solstice Festival and prepare to go home. Traditionally, the owner will hold a banquet to entertain the guys and discuss the next year's affairs with each other. Today, some rural self-employed enterprises still keep this custom, and hold banquets and drinks on the Winter Solstice Festival.
2. jiaozi in the north and Rounding in the south.
It is well known that jiaozi is eaten in the north and Tangyuan is eaten in the south.
3. My aunt and uncle gave shoes and hosted a banquet for teachers.
On the Winter Solstice Festival, there is also the custom of giving shoes among the people, which has a very ancient origin. Later, the custom of giving shoes to aunts and uncles gradually became that aunts and uncles gave shoes and hats to nephews, mainly reflected in children. In the past, it was mainly hand embroidery.
On the Winter Solstice Festival, the old customs should be led by the respected people in the village to entertain the teachers. Mr. Wang will lead the students to worship Confucius memorial tablet. Then the students will be led by respected people, Mr. Bai. At present, Shanxi still has the custom of inviting teachers to dinner on the Winter Solstice Festival. Northwest Shanxi is used to entertaining teachers with stewed mutton, which is very affectionate.
Baidu encyclopedia-winter solstice
Source of reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Winter Solstice Chinese New Year
People's Daily Online-Winter Solstice Custom: Going to the grave to worship the ancestors and banquets for teachers