2. The winter solstice is the earliest of the 24 solar terms, but most people don't know that the origin of the winter solstice actually comes from the planning of a national capital. As early as more than 3,000 years ago, Duke Zhou began to measure the shadow with the method of soil rules and measure the position of the world in Luoyi, which was a move of political significance at that time, but it became one of the festivals that affected future generations for thousands of years.
3. Winter solstice, also known as Winter Festival, Asian New Year Festival and Dragon Festival, 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 in China. Winter solstice is a solar term divided by astronomy, which was called short day in ancient times. From winter to sunrise, the sun is located at 270 degrees of the yellow meridian, and the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer, which is the shortest day in the northern hemisphere.
4. In Tang and Song Dynasties, the solstice in winter was the day of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. In many parts of northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every winter solstice. According to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, a medical sage, saw a frozen person when he retired in his later years, so he wrapped mutton, some cold-dispelling herbs and dough into the shape of ears, made a medicine called "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction" and gave it to the people. Later, on the solstice of winter, people imitated eating and formed a custom.
In winter solstice, different places have different customs. There are customs of slaughtering sheep, eating jiaozi and eating wonton in the north. In the south, there is a custom of eating glutinous rice balls and long noodles from winter solstice, while in Su Beiren, there is a custom of eating fried tofu with green onions from winter solstice.
6. Eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter is also said to be a good deed of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", in "Quhan Joule Decoction". Up to now, there is still a folk song in Nanyang, which is called "jiaozi Bowl, and nobody cares about frozen ears." . Every year, during the winter solstice of the Lunar New Year, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday feast for both the rich and the poor. As the saying goes, "On October 1st, every household will eat jiaozi on the solstice of winter." This custom was left in memory of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", who gave up medicine from the winter solstice.