On the other hand, Manchu people use the winter solstice to eliminate disasters and pray. Generally, at the fifth watch of the winter solstice, they will invite relatives and friends to sit in the yard, sharpen their knives and kill pigs, and begin to worship the "ancestor pole". The ceremony is not complicated, and there are traces of primitive totem worship. Usually, a tall flagpole stands in the southeast corner of the gate, with a gourd-shaped top and a square basket below, which contains rice mixed with pork intestines and pork cavity bones to sacrifice to crows. It is said that crows are the totem of ancient Manchu. After the sacrifice, relatives and friends sat around and ate "white meat" commonly known as "Shen Yu" to seek the blessing of ancestors and the protection of gods.
Not only that, there are many interesting customs around the winter solstice, some of which have even been passed down to this day.
In the traditional Chinese calendar, from the winter solstice, it is popular for the people to fill out the 99-year cold-dispelling map as a pastime. The cold picture in 1999 is usually a traditional Chinese calligraphy with two hooks, nine strokes per word and eighty-one strokes per word. From the solstice of winter, one stroke is filled in the order of strokes every day, and one word is filled in September every year. A 99-year cold relief map is not completed until it returns to the earth in the spring of 99. The color used to fill the daily strokes is determined according to the weather of the day, and the sunny day is red; Yin is blue; Rain is green; The wind is yellow; Snow fell and filled with white. In addition, there is a picture version of the 99-99 cold elimination map, also known as "Yatu", which draws nine cold plums on white paper, one is 19, one is a day, and one plum blossom is filled in a specific color every day according to the weather. In Yuan Dynasty, Yang Yunfu recorded in "Luanjing Zayong": "Try to count nine or nine pictures between windows, and the remaining cold will disappear, and the warmth will return to the beginning. Without Bai Meihua, I think it is apricot at present. "
1999 The most elegant picture of dispelling cold is a nine-body couplet. There are nine words in each couplet, nine strokes in each word, and one stroke in each couplet every day. For example, the first couplet reads "Spring hangs, spring blooms, spring blooms"; The second couplet is called "Autumn Persimmon Hanging in Autumn Courtyard to Send Autumn Fragrance", and it is called "Eliminating Cold and Welcoming Spring in September". However, no matter what kind of "99-99" map, it simply records the weather changes while killing time and entertaining the body and mind. It is said that experienced old people can also infer the rainfall and abundance this year according to the cold elimination map of 1999.
"99 Songs" is also very popular among the people. Because of different regions and customs, this song has produced different versions. It was widely sung in Beijing: "Don't shoot in 1929, walk on the ice in 3949, watch the willows on the river bank in 5969, open the river in 79, bring geese in 89, and plow cattle everywhere in 99 and 19." In the remote villages of Inner Mongolia, it is sung like this: "1929, the dog barks; In 3949, the dog froze to death; In 5969, the wellhead was dismantled; In 79, the river was opened; In 1989, the geese came; In 1999, there were oxen everywhere. " In Yuxian County, Hebei Province, it is said that "1929 called the dog, the road was frozen in 3949, the door was opened in 5969, the river was opened in 79, the goose came in 89, and the cattle were plowed everywhere in 99 and 19." These subtle changes reflect different climatic conditions and living customs in different regions. But one thing is the same, that is, after counting to nine, the weather was coldest in 3949, and then it became warmer and warmer, and the cold gradually disappeared, and the warm spring approached step by step. It is in this sense that some old people often say nine o'clock on the solstice in winter: "Count nine is warm!" " "Young people often don't understand that in fact, in terms of solar terms, the arrival of the winter solstice marks that the cold and cold weather has reached its peak, and the development of climate also follows dialectical laws. The warm yang has begun to sprout quietly, and the extreme cold of 3949 is the last arrogance in winter. Since then, winter has gradually disarmed itself in spring. You see, before the ninth year is over, the river has opened, the geese have returned, and spring is waving to people frequently.
Having said that, don't take it lightly. Although winter is coming to an end and spring is just around the corner, there is still a period of time before spring, so after entering the ninth year, people pay more attention to dispelling cold and keeping fit. People often drink on the ninth day to cool down. They are used to putting nine plates and bowls at the dinner party. In order to make a decent table, they used a "nine-flowered" seat to enjoy the cool. Middle-aged and elderly people often pay attention to diet at this time, in order to get sick for the winter and later. Because, in winter, people's immune function declines and they are easy to get sick. Proper tonic has a positive effect on restoring physical strength and improving disease resistance. People who are weak may wish to try to drink yam mutton soup, which can improve their cold resistance. Of course, proper exercise is also essential.
Winter solstice is a very important solar term. Every year1February 22nd or 23rd is the winter solstice in the 24 solar terms. On this day, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, and the area north of the equator has the shortest day and the longest night. Taking this day as a watershed, the days gradually became longer and the nights gradually became shorter until the summer solstice of the following year. This law goes round and round, and the years pass quietly in this change.
Northern custom
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, it was stipulated that the day before the winter solstice was 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". Celebrations have been held since the Han Dynasty. At the peak, the court has a three-day holiday, so you don't listen to politics. People closed the city for three days to celebrate the festival. It is as lively as the Chinese New Year.
Today's winter solstice festival still retains many historical sites. From the winter of the solstice, it entered the cold weather for several days in a row. There is a folk custom of drawing "Cold Map in September and September" in various forms.
There is a plum blossom, and 998 1 flower is painted in plain ink. Dye a petal with a red pen or a black pen every day, and the petal will come out in 1999, which is called 99-99 cold elimination map.
Some are tied horizontally to make a square diagram of 998 1 grid. Apply a grid of nine grids every day, which is called 99-99 anti-cold table.
Draw a few empty squares and choose a few words. Each word must be several strokes. Write a stroke every day and finally make a sentence, such as "looking at Feng Gu in front of the pavilion and behind the house", which is called the sentence of "Jiujiu eliminating cold"
The most elegant thing is to make nine-body couplets. Nine words per couplet, nine pictures per word, and each couplet is filled in daily. For example, the couplet reads "Spring hangs, spring blooms, spring blooms"; The second couplet is called "Autumn Persimmon Hanging in Autumn Courtyard to Send Autumn Fragrance", and it is called "Eliminating Cold and Welcoming Spring in September".
What form each family takes is often determined by the owner's hobbies and cultural quality. There is also a folk proverb: "The sky is sunny, and the left wind is foggy and snowy." The dots in the picture are dark, and the grass is outside the door. "
On the winter solstice festival, people are used to giving away shoes, and its origin is very old. "China's Notes on Ancient and Modern Times" said: "There were embroidered mandarin ducks in the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Zhao ordered his aunt to go to the winter solstice." Cao Zhi's "Winter Solstice Socks and Shoes Table" also has a sentence: "Welcome in the coming year and celebrate for a long time." Later, the custom of sending shoes to uncles and aunts gradually became that uncles and aunts sent shoes and hats to nephews. Mainly reflected in children. It used to be mainly hand embroidery. As a gift 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. Nowadays, most of them are purchased from collecting coins, and the form keeps up with the trend of the times. On holidays, adults always like to drop in to see their children and praise the shoes and hats given by their uncles and aunts.
In winter solstice, boys in northern Shaanxi are used to playing gang games. Holding a square stone piece the size of a palm, one side stands up, and the other side throws and hits in turn according to a set of prescribed actions. When knocking down the pillars set by the other side, move on. After the failure, exchange throws with each other. Whoever finishes all the procedures first will win. Girls are used to kicking shuttlecock in various forms. People often have to join in the fun and play.
In the winter solstice festival, the old customs should also be entertained by teachers from the East School. Teacher Wang will lead the students to worship Confucius memorial tablet. Then, Dongxue led the students to worship Mr. .. There is a saying in Shanxi that "teachers teach on the winter solstice", which is the custom of respecting teachers and attaching importance to Taoism. Until now, there is still the custom of inviting teachers to dinner on the winter solstice. Northwest Shanxi used to entertain teachers with stewed mutton, which was full of affection.
In the past, domestic helpers used to settle their wages with their employers during the winter solstice and then prepare to go home. Traditionally, the host will hold a banquet to entertain the guys and discuss the affairs of next year with each other. Today, some rural self-employed people still keep this custom, holding banquets and drinking alcohol on the winter solstice.
Southern customs
The solstice in winter is the longest night in a year. Many people use this evening to make a "winter solstice circle" with glutinous rice flour. In order to distinguish it from the "farewell to the old and welcome the new" on the eve of the Spring Festival, the day before the Winter Festival is called "adding the year" or "dividing the year", which means that the "year" has not ended, but everyone has grown up for a year.
Although the customs and people's feelings in different parts of our country are different, they are roughly 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 yen, you should stick a winter solstice yen on the back of the bed lamp in doors, windows, tables and cabinets, which is called "waste day" and "send the stove" before baking food. If there are pregnant women at home at this time, the winter solstice will be full, and boys will be born, otherwise girls will be born. When eating the winter solstice, the entrances must be paired for good luck. In the end, there are only two pieces left, the married are the best, and the single and unmarried are the best. At night, some families worship their ancestors with seasonal fruits and three kinds of animals. Some people "dry winter rice" on this day, that is, wash white rice with water, dry it on this day, and put it away for the sick to cook porridge later.
Eating jiaozi is also a traditional custom from winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. "Tangyuan" is an essential food from winter solstice, and it is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is also called "the 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 give gifts to relatives and friends. In the past, Shanghainese were most particular about eating jiaozi. An ancient poem said, "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." "Circle" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter symbolizes family harmony and good luck.
Winter sweet pills are usually cooked before dawn. After the family gets up, they should eat a bowl of "Winter Festival Pills". There is a saying in Chaoshan folk that "the Chinese New Year will be celebrated as soon as the winter festival pills are eaten", commonly known as "adding the year", which means that although one year has not passed, everyone has added a year. Children are most eager to eat this bowl of sweet pills, and often wake up at night and ask the morning? 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 years, fragrant pills are not cooked". In fact, every year on the solstice of winter, the night is the longest, and after the solstice of winter, it gradually becomes shorter. In the past, in Chaoshan urban and rural areas, it was also customary to worship Commander Gong with sweet glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter, and to prepare three sacrifices to worship the ancestors to sweep the grave. It was called "winter paper" to sweep the grave on the solstice in winter. Less than three years after death, future generations will "spend the spring paper" and then "spend the winter paper" in Tomb-Sweeping Day. Sweeping graves on the solstice in winter, because there is little rain and plenty of sunshine in winter, it is more convenient to hold ancestor worship activities in Shan Ye, and it is also an outing for entertainment.
In winter solstice, most parts of the province are used to eating jiaozi. It is said that eating jiaozi won't freeze your ears on the winter solstice. The tradition in mountainous areas is to eat cakes. Prosperous boiled rape root rice soup in southern Shanxi. In some places, they still eat wonton, and there is a saying that "it's winter to the sun, and summer to the sun".
It is said that eating glutinous rice balls from winter solstice in some areas in the south is developed from red beans and glutinous rice.
Eat jiaozi (wonton) from winter solstice in Sichuan.
In winter in Guangxi, we eat tofu buns, fry tofu into a hollow, and steam the meat.
The winter solstice in Suzhou is as big as a year.
Suzhou people are known as "the winter solstice is as big as a year", which means paying special attention to this festival. Before the festival, relatives and friends bring gifts with food, carry baskets and eaves boxes, and fill the road. This is the so-called winter solstice dish. The night before the festival, known as the winter solstice night, the whole family gets together for winter solstice dinner. Any married woman must return to her husband's family. If she stays at her parents' house, it will be "ten meals and nine empty rooms". Don't put pumpkins at home for the night, but put them on the open roof, or they will be destroyed. Worship ancestors before dinner at night, and the dishes for ancestor worship must be cooked in the pot, otherwise your memory will be poor. The dishes at dinner are particularly rich. Rich people have at least eight pots and a warm pot, plus braised hooves of whole chicken, whole duck and big herring. If the family goes out, they will also put a pair of bowls and chopsticks. All kinds of dishes have auspicious names. Egg jiaozi is called "Yuanbao", meatballs are called "Reunion", thread powder is called "golden chain", chicken is called "flapping", fish is called "not enough to eat", bean sprouts are called "ruyi dish" and vegetables are called "Anle dish", just like the custom of New Year's Eve. Putting soybeans in the rice is called "Yuanbao rice". Put two hot water chestnuts in the rice bowl in advance and take them out when eating, which is called "digging Yuanbao". Drink a very low-alcohol winter wine made of herbal wine and syrup at night meal, which can be drunk by both children and women. As for poor families, after paying the rent and bills, there is not much left, so they have to "have money to eat for one night and no money to freeze for one night".
Starting from the morning of winter solstice, eating jiaozi (jiaozi or pumpkin jiaozi) on winter solstice starts at 9: 00, which is called 9: 00 in winter, and it is cold until 998 1. In addition, this custom is that it will rain and snow in winter and it will be sunny. If the winter solstice is sunny, it will be rainy and snowy at the end of the year and the roads will be muddy. Therefore, there is a saying that a clean winter solstice is a sloppy year, and a sloppy winter solstice is a clean year.
To find out why Suzhou is the only place where the winter solstice is as big as a year, we must first find out the origin of the solar terms: for thousands of years, China has been in an agricultural society. In order to adapt to agricultural civilization, our ancestors have always attached great importance to the weather and seasonal changes of the four seasons. More than 3000 years ago, there was a record about the winter solstice in the Book of Yao Dian in Xia and Shang Dynasties, which was called "short day" at that time. In the early years of the Zhou Dynasty, among the twenty-four solar terms formed in China, the winter solstice was officially mentioned, which can be found in the Xun Jie of Zhou Shushi in Central Hebei. As for the winter solstice, many people now take it literally and think that the winter solstice is the day when winter comes. In fact, its original intention is not that winter has arrived, but that the sun moves to the South Pole in winter, which means "pole", so it is also called "south solstice".
It is really a long time to mention the popular saying that the winter solstice in Suzhou is as big as a year. Suzhou should have a history of more than 3000 years. In the Ming Dynasty, Jiajing Gusu said that "winter is especially heavy, and the city will stop in three days, such as New Year's Day". In the Qing Dynasty, Wu Li also recorded that "the county people are the most important winter festival", so it can be said that "winter is as big as a year". In our tradition, there has always been a saying that we plough in spring, harvest in summer, harvest in autumn and store in winter all the year round. The so-called winter storage is a rest day after the busy autumn and a festival to celebrate the harvest. Suzhou Mountain is warm and soft, and has always been the granary of the country. Since the Song Dynasty, the popularity of "Suzhou Lake is ripe and the world is full" should be not only because the state attaches importance to Suzhou, the grain rear area, but also because Suzhou people attach importance to agriculture and water conservancy. Speaking of our ancestors in Suzhou, as we all know, since Taber went to Wu at the end of Shang Dynasty, it has brought not only the migration of population, but also the culture brought by the migration of residents. In a sense, many residents of Wudi are descendants of the Zhou Dynasty. Suzhou is a place with profound cultural heritage and strong ability to inherit civilization. As for folk customs, they are naturally passed down best: according to the weekly calendar, the beginning of a year is on the 1 1 month of the lunar calendar, so it is not surprising that we Suzhou people follow the customs since the week and pay special attention to the winter solstice. Jia Qinglu quoted Cai Yun's "Wu Yuqian" as saying, "When the winter is fat, the children are thin and separated, and the family is still attacking the family." People in the Tang Dynasty also said that the solstice in winter is a new beginning of the year. At that time, the night before the winter solstice was called "except night"