1, Zhang Zhongjing: According to legend, in ancient times, there was a doctor named Zhang Zhongjing who saw many people frostbite their ears because of the cold in the cold winter. So, he decided to make a kind of food that can keep out the cold. This is the later jiaozi.
He made jiaozi with mutton, pepper and other ingredients and distributed it to those in need. Since then, people began to eat jiaozi on the winter solstice to commemorate Zhang Zhongjing's kindness.
2. Zhuge Liang: Another story related to the winter solstice is about Zhuge Liang. According to legend, during the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang led an army to station in a small village in winter. Many soldiers are ill because of the cold weather. Zhuge Liang learned that there is a local food called "rice cake".
So he ordered the soldiers to make rice cakes and distribute them to the soldiers for eating. Since then, people began to eat rice cakes on the winter solstice to commemorate Zhuge Liang's wisdom and kindness.
Winter solstice custom:
1, ancestor worship: on the winter solstice, worship ancestors, remember ancestors, and express future generations' respect and memory for ancestors.
2. Eating jiaozi: In the north, it is a custom to eat jiaozi on the winter solstice of the lunar calendar every year. Because jiaozi has the meaning of "eliminating cold", there is still a folk proverb that "jiaozi bowls are not served properly on the winter solstice, and nobody cares if you freeze your ears".
3, eat dumplings: In the south, the winter solstice is popular to eat dumplings, and the folks also have the saying that "eating dumplings is one year older." Tangyuan, also known as dumplings, is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour, and "round" means "reunion" and "perfection", so eating tangyuan on the winter solstice is also called "winter solstice dumplings". Tangyuan can be used to worship ancestors or to give gifts to relatives and friends.
4. Giving shoes: On the Winter Solstice Festival, people are used to giving shoes, and its origin is very ancient. "Notes on Chinese Ancient and Modern Times" said: "There are embroidered mandarin ducks in the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Zhao ordered his aunt to go to the winter solstice." Since then, women have presented shoes and socks to their in-laws on the winter solstice, which has become a festival ceremony for ancient women to present shoes and socks to their elders on the winter solstice.