Winter Solstice is a very important solar term in the China lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. It is commonly known as "winter festival", "long solstice festival" and "sub-year-old". As early as the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,5 years ago, China observed the sun with Tugui and determined the winter solstice, which was the earliest of the 24 solar terms. [1] In most parts of northern China, there is also the custom of eating jiaozi and Tangyuan in the south on this day. There is a proverb: when the winter solstice comes, eat dumplings, and there are poems and film and television works about this solar term.

Contents

1 Introduction to the Winter Solstice

2 Commemorating the Medical Sage

3 Food Legends

4 Local Customs

Northern Customs

Southern Customs

1 Introduction to the Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice Festival originated in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has been in existence ever since. Qing Jia Lu even says that the winter solstice is as big as a year. This shows that the ancients attached great importance to the winter solstice. People think that the winter solstice is a natural transformation of yin and yang and a blessing given by heaven. In the Han Dynasty, the winter solstice was the "winter festival", and the government held a congratulatory ceremony called "He Dong", which was a routine holiday. There is such a record in the Book of the Later Han Dynasty: "Before and after the Winter Solstice, a gentleman lived in peace, refused to listen to politics, chose auspicious days and then saved trouble." Therefore, on this day, the court will have a holiday and rest, the army will be on standby, the frontier fortress will be closed, business trips will be closed, relatives and friends will give each other food, visit each other, and have a "quiet" festival happily.

In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the winter solstice was a day to worship the ancestors. On this day, the emperor went to the suburbs to hold a ceremony to worship the heavens. On this day, the people had to worship their parents. Now, some places still celebrate the winter solstice.

2 In memory of the medical sage

There are different customs in different places during the winter solstice. In the north, there are customs of slaughtering sheep, eating jiaozi and eating wonton during the winter solstice, while in the south, there are customs of eating rice balls and long noodles during the winter solstice, while in Su Beiren, there are customs of eating fried tofu with green onions during the winter solstice. Yang Tai, a professor at the College of Liberal Arts of Liaoning University, said that eating jiaozi on the winter solstice is the kindness of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", in "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction". Up to now, there is still a folk song in Nanyang, which says, "The winter solstice misbehaves the jiaozi bowl, and nobody cares if you freeze your ears.". [1]

Every year, on the Winter Solstice of the Lunar New Year, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday meal for the rich and the poor. As the saying goes, "On October 1st, every household will eat dumplings on the winter solstice." This custom was left in memory of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", who gave up medicine on the winter solstice.

Zhang Zhongjing is a native of Gedong, Nanyang. He wrote Treatise on Febrile Diseases, which is a masterpiece of doctors and is regarded as a classic by doctors of all ages. Zhang Zhongjing has a famous saying: "If you advance, you will save the world; if you retreat, you will save the people;" You can't be a good doctor, but also a good doctor. " In the Eastern Han Dynasty, he served as the prefect of Changsha, visiting the sick and applying medicine, and practicing medicine in the lobby. Later, he resolutely resigned and returned to his hometown to treat his neighbors. When he returned home, it was winter. He saw that the villagers on both sides of the Baihe River were sallow and emaciated, hungry and cold, and many people's ears were frozen. He asked his disciples to set up a medical shed and a cauldron in Dongguan, Nanyang, and give up "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction" to cure chilblain on the day of the winter solstice. He boiled mutton, peppers and some herbs for dispelling cold in a pot, then fished out the mutton and medicines and chopped them, and made them into ear-like "jiao-er" with bread. After cooking, he distributed two "jiao-er" and a big bowl of broth to everyone who came to ask for medicine. People ate "Jiao Er" and drank "Quhan Tang", and they were warm all over, with fever in both ears and frostbitten ears cured. Later generations learned the look of "Jiao Er" and packaged it into food, also called "jiaozi" or "flat food".

3 food legends

One of the legends: In the past, there was a saying in old Beijing that "winter solstice wonton and summer solstice noodles". According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu in the north often harassed the frontier, and the people were restless. At that time, there were two leaders of Hun tribe and Tun tribe, which were very cruel. The people hated it, so they wrapped it into a corner with meat stuffing and called it "wonton" with the sound of "muddy" and "tun". Hate to eat, and seek to calm the war and live a peaceful life. Because wonton was originally made on the winter solstice, every family eats wonton on the winter solstice.

Legend 2: It is said that the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the winter solstice, which made him feel particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice has been formed among the people. People eat dog meat, mutton and all kinds of nourishing foods on the winter solstice in order to have a good omen for the coming year.

Legend 3: In the water town in the south of the Yangtze River, it is a custom for the whole family to get together on the night of the winter solstice and eat red beans and glutinous rice. According to legend, there was a man named * * * Gong's. His son was incompetent and evil, and he died on the winter solstice. After his death, he became an epidemic ghost and continued to harm the people. However, this epidemic ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook red bean rice on the winter solstice to ward off the epidemic ghost and prevent and cure diseases.

The winter solstice is a severe winter season. People eat to keep warm and cure diseases. After thousands of years of development, they have gradually formed a unique seasonal food tradition, such as wonton, jiaozi, glutinous rice balls, red bean porridge, dog meat and mutton. Along with the winter solstice, there are many folklore.

There is a common custom of eating wonton on the winter solstice, which has a long history. According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu in the north often harassed the frontier, and the people were restless. At that time, there were two leaders of Hun tribe and Tun tribe, which were very cruel. The people hated it, so they wrapped it into corners with meat stuffing, called it "wonton" with the sound of "muddy" and "tun", hated it and prayed to calm the war and enjoy peace. Because wonton was originally made on the winter solstice, every family later ate wonton on the winter solstice. In the Southern Song Dynasty, people in Lin 'an also ate wonton on the winter solstice, which also contained hatred for foreigners and longing for peace.

People in Henan have the custom of eating jiaozi on the winter solstice, which is called "pinching frozen ears". There is also a legend: according to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, the medical sage of Nanyang, was originally a medical officer, and it was a snowy winter when he retired from his old age. He saw the villagers in Nanyang suffering from cold and hunger, and many people's ears were frozen and rotten. So he asked his disciples to set up a medical shed in Guandong, Nanyang, put mutton, peppers and some cold-dispelling herbs in a pot and cooked them, fished them out and chopped them up, kneaded them into ears with a leather bag, then put them down and cooked them in a pot, and made them into "cold-dispelling and ear-correcting soup" for the villagers to eat. After the villagers took the food, their frozen ears were cured. Later, on the winter solstice, people imitated this kind of "pinching ears" to eat, saying that eating jiaozi on the winter solstice did not freeze people.

It is said that the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the winter solstice. He thought it was particularly delicious, and his body was hot and his head was sweating, so he praised it as good to eat dog meat on the winter solstice. Dog meat is hot, and eating it in winter can really warm up and strengthen yang. Since then, the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice has been formed among the people. After the winter solstice, the weather entered the coldest period. Chinese medicine believes that dog meat and mutton have the effect of aphrodisiac and complement. Eating dog meat and mutton and various nourishing foods during the winter solstice and the severe cold season can replenish the body, so as to be energetic and strong in the coming year.

in Jiangnan water town, there is a custom of eating red bean porridge on the night of the winter solstice. This is also due to the ancient legend, the son of the southern tribal leader * * * Gong failed and did many evils. He died on the winter solstice and became a plague ghost after his death, continuing to harm the people. Because this epidemic ghost is most afraid of red beans, people cook red bean porridge on the winter solstice to ward off the epidemic ghost and prevent disasters. Later, this kind of red bean porridge was also called "winter solstice porridge", in which besides red beans, red dates and walnut meat were also added to replenish the body.

4 local customs

northern customs

The winter solstice is an important festival of Shanxi people in November of the lunar calendar, commonly known as the "Winter Festival".

during the yin and Zhou dynasties, the day before the winter solstice was defined as the end of the year. The winter solstice festival is essentially equivalent to today's Spring Festival. Later, the summer calendar was implemented. However, the winter solstice has always ranked first among the 24 solar terms, and there is a saying that "the winter solstice is as big as a year", which is called "sub-year". Since the Han Dynasty, celebrations have been held. During the peak period, the imperial court took a three-day vacation, and you did not listen to politics. The people closed the city for three days to celebrate the festival. Its excitement is no less than that of the New Year.

The Winter Solstice Festival still retains many historical relics. From the date of the winter solstice, it entered the cold weather for several days. There is a folk custom of painting the "Nine-Nine Cold Relief Map" in various forms.

There is a plum blossom, and 9981 flowers are drawn in plain ink. Dye a petal with a red pen or a black pen every day, and the petals will come out in 99, which is called the 99-99 cold elimination map.

Some of them are horizontal and firm, making a 9981-grid square chart. Apply one grid and nine grids every day, which is called "Nine-Nine Cold Eliminating Table".

Draw a few empty squares, choose a few words, and each word must be a few strokes. Write a stroke every day, and finally become a sentence, such as "looking at the bones of Jin Bai Feng in front of the pavilion and behind the house", which is called the sentence of "99 eliminating cold"

The most elegant thing is to make nine-body couplets. Each couplet has nine characters, and each character has nine pictures, and each couplet is filled in every day. For example, the couplet reads "Spring springs hang down, spring blooms and spring blooms"; The second couplet is called "Autumn Persimmon Hanging in Autumn Courtyard to Send Autumn Fragrance in Autumn", which is called "99 Cold Eliminating and Spring Welcoming".

the specific form of each family often depends on the owner's hobbies and cultural quality. There is still a folk proverb about "Eliminating Cold in 1999": "It's cloudy and sunny, and the left wind is foggy and snowy. The point in the picture is dark, and the grass is outside the door. "

On the Winter Solstice Festival, the folk custom of giving shoes has a very ancient origin. "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." Cao Zhi's "Winter Solstice Offering Socks and Footwear Table" also has a sentence of "Welcome to the sample in the next year, and celebrate when you are long." 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. As gifts for men, hats are mostly made in the shape of tigers and dogs, and embroidered shoes are also beasts. For girls, hats are mostly made in the shape of phoenix, and embroidery on shoes is mostly flowers and birds. Most of them are purchased from collecting coins, and the form follows the trend of the times. On holidays, adults always like to drop in with their children and boast about the shoes and hats presented by their aunts and uncles.

On the Winter Solstice Festival, boys in northern Shanxi are used to playing gang games. Hold a square stone piece the size of a palm, one side stands up, and the other side throws and hits in order according to the prescribed set of actions. When knocking down the post set by the other side, continue to move on. After the failure, exchange throws with each other. Whoever completes all the procedures first wins. Girls are used to kicking shuttlecock in various forms. People often have to join in the fun and play.

On the Winter Solstice Festival, the old customs should also be led by Xue Dong to host a banquet for teachers. Mr. Wang will lead the students to worship Confucius memorial tablet. Then Xue Dong led the students to worship Mr.. There is a folk saying in Shanxi that "teachers teach on the Winter Solstice Festival", which is the custom of respecting teachers. Up to now, there is still the custom of inviting teachers to dinner on the Winter Solstice Festival. Northwest Shanxi is used to entertaining teachers with stewed mutton, which is full of affection.

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.

Southern custom

The winter solstice is the longest night in a year. Many people use this night to make a "winter solstice circle" with glutinous rice flour. In order to distinguish it from the "resignation" on the eve of the Spring Festival later, the day before the winter festival is called "adding new year" or "sub-year", which means that the "year" has not finished, but everyone has grown one year.

although there are differences in customs and people's feelings in different parts of China, they are basically the same. When making the winter solstice circle, children often pinch some small animals, such as kittens, puppies, rabbits, tigers and so on. The children are very happy at this time. Before eating the Winter Solstice Round, a Winter Solstice Round should be pasted on the back of the bed lamp of doors and windows, tables and cabinets, which is called "wasting the day", and the food can only be baked after "sending the stove". If there is a pregnant woman at home at this time, the winter solstice will be round, and a boy will be born, otherwise a girl will be born. When eating the winter solstice, the entrances must be paired for good luck. There are only two tablets left in the end, and the married people will be all the best, and the single unmarried people will be all the best. In the evening, some families worship their ancestors with seasonal fruits and three animals. There are also people who "bask in winter rice" on this day, that is, they wash the white rice with water, expose it to the sun on this day and collect it for the sick people to cook porridge in the future.

Eating dumplings is also a traditional custom of the winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. "Tangyuan" is an essential food in the winter solstice, and it is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection", and eating tangyuan in the winter solstice is also called "winter solstice group". There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". The winter solstice group can be used to worship ancestors or to give gifts to relatives and friends. In the old days, Shanghainese were most particular about eating dumplings. The ancients had a poem saying: "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating dumplings on the winter solstice symbolizes family harmony and auspiciousness.

Winter Festival sweet pills are usually cooked before dawn. When family members get up, they have to eat a bowl of "Winter Festival Pills". There is a folk proverb in Chaoshan that "Winter Festival Pills are eaten to celebrate the New Year", commonly known as "adding years", which means that although the year has not passed, everyone has added one year. Children are most eager to eat this bowl of sweet pills, and often wake up at night to ask the dawn? However, the sky seems to be joking with the children, and it is always not bright. Therefore, there is a nursery rhyme of "winter festival night, long time, and the sweet pill is not boiled." In fact, every year on the winter solstice, the night is the longest, and after the winter solstice, it gradually becomes shorter. In the past, Chaoshan urban and rural areas also had the custom of worshipping "Commander Gong" with sweet glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice, preparing three sacrifices to worship ancestors and sweeping graves, and sweeping graves on the winter solstice was called "winter paper". Less than three years after a person's death, future generations should "pass the spring paper" in Tomb-Sweeping Day, and then "pass the winter paper". Sweeping graves on the winter solstice, because there is little rain and plenty of sunshine in winter, it is more convenient to hold ancestor worship in Shan Ye, and it also serves as an outing to entertain the body and mind.

On the Winter Solstice Festival, most parts of the province are used to eating jiaozi. It is said that eating jiaozi on the Winter Solstice Festival does not freeze ears. The tradition in mountainous areas is to eat cakes. Prosperous boiled rape root rice soup in southern Shanxi. Some places also eat wonton, and there is a saying that "winter solstice wonton and summer solstice noodles".

Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice in some areas in the south is said to have developed from red bean glutinous rice.

eat jiaozi (wonton soup) on the winter solstice in Sichuan.

In the winter solstice in Guangxi, eat tofu buns, fry the tofu into a hollow one, put the meat in and steam it.