The allusion of the winter solstice Yang Sheng comes from "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms"

Luo Guanzhong wrote about the winter solstice in "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", and it is also related to a war. The most critical moment in the Battle of Chibi occurred at the winter solstice. In the book, Cheng Yu entered and told Cao Cao: "Today the southeast wind is blowing, so you should be on guard." Cao Cao smiled and replied: "When the sun comes out on the winter solstice, when it comes back, will there be no southeast wind?"

Indeed, the winter solstice generates yang, and the summer solstice generates yin. The winter solstice is the extreme point of yin. When yin reaches the extreme, it begins to transform into yang. This cycle of transformation is called reversal, so it is normal for the wind direction to change on this day.

But it was such a southeast wind that Zhuge Liang cleverly borrowed to blow the river water "like ten thousand golden snakes, turning and playing with the waves". After adding fire, "but on the three rivers, the fire was chasing The wind flew brightly, and the sky and the earth were filled with fire. In the midst of chatting and laughing, the rafts and oars flew into ashes, and Sun Liu won the battle of Chibi, establishing the status quo of the Three Kingdoms.

The customs of the Winter Solstice include making rice wine, eating glutinous rice balls, eating barbecued pork and ginger rice, and eating dumplings.

To make rice wine, traditional Gusu people drink winter wine on the night of the winter solstice. Winter wine is brewed with glutinous rice or yellow rice and added with sweet-scented osmanthus.

Eating glutinous rice balls is a traditional custom during the Winter Solstice, which is especially popular in Jiangnan. "Tangyuan" is an essential food during the Winter Solstice. "Yuan" means "reunion" and "completeness". Eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice is also called "Winter Solstice Yuan".

Eat roasted pork and ginger rice. In some places in the south, roasted pork is eaten on the winter solstice. On this day, the dried roasted pork becomes an indispensable delicacy on the dining tables of Guangdong and Guangxi, which means adding more vegetables. age.

Eating dumplings. In many areas of northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice every year. In northern China, dumplings are eaten on this day because dumplings have the meaning of "repelling cold". There is still a folk proverb "If you don't bring dumpling bowls during the winter solstice, your ears will freeze off and no one will care".