Customs of the Winter Solstice Introduction to the Winter Solstice The Winter Solstice, also known as "Yi Yang Sheng", is an important solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The Winter Solstice is commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Long Solstice Festival", "Long Solstice Festival",

"Yasui" etc.

As early as the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,500 years ago, China had already used Tugui to observe the sun and determine the winter solstice. It is the earliest one of the twenty-four solar terms to be formulated, and the time is from December 21 to 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year.

between days.

Historical Origin According to records, in the Zhou and Qin Dynasties, November in winter was the first month, and the winter solstice was the beginning of the new year.

"The Book of Han" says: "The Yang Qi rises during the winter solstice, and the king and Taoist minister congratulate you..." In other words, people start celebrating the winter solstice to celebrate the arrival of the new year.

The ancients believed that starting from the winter solstice, the yang energy of heaven and earth begins to rise and strengthen, which represents the beginning of the next cycle and an auspicious day.

Therefore, customs such as ancestor worship and family dinners during the Spring Festival were often held during the Winter Solstice.

The winter solstice is also called the "small year". First, it means that the new year is approaching and there are not many days left; second, it means the importance of the winter solstice.

Celebrating the Winter Solstice as a festival originated in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and is still used today.

The first month of the Zhou calendar is the eleventh month of the summer calendar. Therefore, the first month of the Zhou Dynasty is equal to the eleventh month of the current Gregorian calendar. Therefore, there is no difference between greeting the new year and greeting the winter.

It was not until Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted the lunar calendar that the first month and the winter solstice were separated.

It can also be said that simply celebrating the "Winter Solstice Festival" only existed after the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and is still used today.

Winter Solstice Customs The two most common customs on the Winter Solstice in my country are: 1. The family gathers together to have a reunion dinner, which usually includes the most unique local Winter Solstice ingredients. Eating dumplings has become a Winter Solstice custom for most Chinese people.

2. Sacrificial activities.

Many families will visit the grave on this day or the day before. Those who are unable to return to their hometown will make a small offering table at home and place some dumplings, wine, fruits, etc. to pay homage.

Of course, after thousands of years of development, the Winter Solstice has formed a unique seasonal food culture.

Different regions also have some special customs.

Here are just a few: North Every year on the winter solstice of the lunar calendar, dumplings are an essential holiday meal for everyone, rich or poor.

With the development of China's transportation, work migration, north-south exchanges, etc., eating dumplings has now spread to many areas in the south.

The custom of eating mutton during the winter solstice in Tengzhou, Shandong is said to have started in the Han Dynasty.

This day is called Fujiu. Before the festival, gifts such as mutton will be given to the elders. Every family will drink mutton soup on Fujiu, which is a good sign for the individual, the elders and the family.

In the Jiangnan Water Town, there is a custom of the whole family gathering together to eat red beans and glutinous rice on the night of the winter solstice.

Ningbo In Ningbo’s traditional customs, sweet potato soup is one of the must-eat delicacies during the winter solstice.

In the understanding of Ningbo people, eating sweet potatoes during the winter solstice is to "overturn" all the bad luck in the past year.

Taiwan In our country, Taiwan still retains the tradition of using nine-layer cakes to worship ancestors during the Winter Solstice.

In Taizhou and Linhai, Taizhou and Linhai eat "Winter Solstice Yuan" (leiyuan, also called hard and roughyuan) on this day, which means round and round, and reunion.

Suzhou The Suzhou area attaches great importance to the winter solstice. There is a saying in the Suzhou area: "The winter solstice is like the new year."

Traditional Gusu people drink Dongjiujiu on the night of the winter solstice. Dongjiujiu is a kind of rice wine brewed with sweet-scented osmanthus and has a pleasant aroma.

Jiangxi Mochi is a specialty of Zhejiang and Jiangxi. It is also a traditional snack of Fujian people and an offering by Fujian people during their sacrifices.

It can be steamed, fried, grilled or stir-fried after drying.

Hefei In Hefei, Anhui Province, people in Hefei eat pumpkin cakes and a bowl of hot egg noodles during the winter solstice to celebrate the winter solstice.

Chaoshan After people in Chaoshan eat the Winter Festival Yuan, they stick two Winter Festival Yuan on conspicuous places such as doors, windows, tables, cupboards, ladders, beds, etc. in their homes, even on the bows of fishermen's boats, the horns of farmers' cattle, and on fruit farmers' heads.

Planted fruit trees are no exception.

In order to keep the whole family safe.

The winter solstice in Jiaxing was a major festival in ancient times. Jiaxing places emphasis on the winter solstice. Folks advocate winter solstice supplements, such as red bean glutinous rice, ginseng soup, white fungus, walnut kernels stewed in wine, longan boiled eggs, etc.

What are the customs of the Winter Solstice? Northern Customs The Winter Solstice is an important folk festival in Shanxi 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 designated as the end of the year.

The Winter Solstice Festival is essentially equivalent to today’s Spring Festival.

Later the lunar calendar was implemented.

But the winter solstice has always been ranked first among the twenty-four solar terms. There is a saying that "the winter solstice is as big as the new year", which is called "sub-year".

Since the Han Dynasty, celebration ceremonies have been held. During the peak period, the court took a three-day vacation and the emperor did not listen to the government.

The people took a break from the city for three days to celebrate the festival.

Its liveliness is no less than the Chinese New Year.