The origin of the custom of eating jiaozi on the winter solstice. Every year on the winter solstice of the lunar calendar, jiaozi is an essential holiday meal for the rich and the poor. As the saying goes, "On October 1st, when the winter solstice comes, every family eats dumplings." 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".
Zhang Zhongjing is nearly 1800 years ago, but the story of his "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction" has been widely circulated among the people. When people eat jiaozi on the winter solstice, they still remember Zhang Zhongjing's kindness. 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.".
The custom of winter solstice
1 Eat Tofu In some areas in the north, the Winter Solstice Festival is called "Tofu Festival". On this festival, every family eats shallots mixed with tofu. Why is there this festival food custom? This stems from a historical allusion. According to legend, Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Empire, and one day he suddenly received a secret report: Liu Bowen, an important official of the imperial court, had the opposite. Zhu Yuanzhang then ordered Liu Bowen to submit all the accounts he was in charge of for trial within three days. Three days later, Liu Bowen came to see Zhu Yuanzhang with an account book and a crock. Zhu Yuanzhang audited the accounts and found them correct; Open the crock and see, there is a home-cooked dish: onion mixed with tofu. Zhu Yuanzhang immediately understood: This is Liu Bowen defending himself, implying that he is clear! As a result, there is this festival food custom.
2, eat red bean rice in Jiangnan water town, on the night of the winter solstice, the whole family will reunite to eat red bean glutinous rice. Why is there this festival food custom? This stems from a fairy tale. The son of Gong Shi, an ancient god, relied on his father's fame to do evil everywhere. He died of illness on the winter solstice, but it turned into a plague and still harmed the people. The plague is most afraid of red beans, so people eat red bean rice at home on the night of the winter solstice to ward off the plague, get rid of diseases and prevent plague.
3. The custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice originated from Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty: On the winter solstice of a certain year, Liu Bang ate the stewed dog meat sent by the general Fan Kuai, which was very enjoyable, so there was a folk custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice. Eating dog meat in winter is not only a holiday custom, but also has its scientific truth: dog meat has the function of aphrodisiac and nourishing, and eating more dog meat in winter helps to enhance the body's ability to keep out the cold and keep fit. Dog meat is eaten in the northern winter solstice, mainly hot pot stew. At the same time, some tofu slices and dried cabbage are also served.
These are the stories and customs I know about eating jiaozi on the winter solstice. What other customs do you know, my friends?