Eating glutinous rice balls is not only a kind of food enjoyment, but also a kind of inheritance of traditional culture. The round shape of glutinous rice balls symbolizes reunion and integrity, and implies family harmony and happiness. At this special moment of the winter solstice, eating glutinous rice balls also represents expectations and blessings for the new year. On the winter solstice, families in Shanghai will prepare glutinous rice balls, and families will sit around and enjoy delicious glutinous rice balls. The glutinous rice skin of glutinous rice dumplings is soft and delicious, and the fillings are rich and varied, with flavors such as bean paste, sesame seeds and peanuts. The taste is sweet and delicate, which makes people memorable.

In addition to family reunion, Shanghainese will hold various celebrations on the winter solstice, such as lion dance, dragon dance and acrobatic performances, which are very lively. There are also temple fairs in some places, where people can taste all kinds of delicious food, buy special handicrafts and feel a strong festive atmosphere.

Generally speaking, the custom of Shanghainese eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is a manifestation of traditional culture, which represents family reunion, happiness and perfection. Through this custom, people express their love for life and expectations for the new year.

Introduction of winter solstice

Winter Solstice, also known as Solstice, Winter Festival, Sub-Year, etc., has both natural and humanistic connotations. It is not only an important solar term among the 24 solar terms, but also a traditional folk festival of ancestor worship in China. The winter solstice is one of the four seasons and eight festivals, which is regarded as a big holiday in winter. In ancient times, there was a saying that the winter solstice was as big as a year. The custom of winter solstice is different in content or detail because of different regions. In southern China, there is the custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors and feasting on the winter solstice. In the northern part of China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every winter solstice.

The winter solstice is the 22nd solar term of the "twenty-four solar terms", with the solar meridian reaching 270 degrees, and it is celebrated every year on Gregorian calendar1February 2 1-23. The winter solstice is the extreme point where the direct sunlight travels southward. On the winter solstice, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, and the sun is most inclined to the northern hemisphere, and the solar altitude angle is the smallest. It is the shortest day and the longest night in all parts of the northern hemisphere.

The winter solstice is also the turning point of the sun's direct point of return to the north. After this day, the sun's direct point will go back. The sun's direct point will start to move northward from the Tropic of Capricorn (23 26' s), and the daylight in the northern hemisphere (China is located in the northern hemisphere) will increase day by day.

Refer to Baidu Encyclopedia-Winter Solstice for the above contents.