Generally, on the summer solstice, Shanghainese eat noodles. The custom of eating cold noodles during the Summer Solstice began in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and became popular in Shanghai in the late Qing Dynasty. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Shanghai cold noodles began to be made by steaming first and then boiling, which has not changed to this day.

Shanghai people will also choose to eat dumplings on the summer solstice. Dumplings are a traditional Chinese delicacy. Depending on the fillings, they can meet the needs of different festivals. Moreover, dumplings are easy to make, and eating dumplings can reflect the family atmosphere of the Chinese people.

Extended information:

Custom activities

The summer solstice is when crops are harvested. Since ancient times, it has been a custom to celebrate the harvest and worship ancestors at this time to pray for disaster relief. Good years. Therefore, the summer solstice, as a festival, is included in the ancient rituals of worshiping gods. As it is said in ancient books: "Heaven and earth are the foundation of life; ancestors are the foundation of species." This means that heaven and earth are the foundation of life, ancestors are the foundation of human beings, and ancestor worship is a custom of passing on filial piety.

The Han Dynasty's "Zhou Li·Chun Guan" contains: "With the summer solstice, local things will be affected." The summer solstice is just after the wheat harvest. Farmers not only thank God for the harvest, but also pray for "autumn rewards". ". Before and after the summer solstice, some places hold a grand "Xiamai Festival", which is a remnant of the ancient "summer festival" activity. To spend the summer and avoid the sun: On the summer solstice, women give each other folding fans, powder, and other items.

There is also the custom of eating noodles during the Summer Solstice. Since ancient times, Chinese people have said "Winter Solstice Wonton and Summer Solstice Noodles". Therefore, people in many areas in the south of the Yangtze River regard eating noodles during the Summer Solstice as a very important custom. The summer solstice represents the arrival of hot summer, and people's diet must also change, with low-calorie and easy-to-prepare foods as the main food.

Noodles are often the first choice for families, so Xia Zhi noodles are also called "Irofushi noodles". Also, because Xia Zhi noodles are basically new flour ground from new wheat, the fresh flour has higher nutrients and a better taste.