1, eat jiaozi in the north
Jiaozi is an indispensable holiday meal for northerners, rich or poor, on the winter solstice of the lunar calendar every year. 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. In jiaozi, which is eaten on the winter solstice, most people will choose mutton stuffing. The reason is that mutton is warm, and eating it on the winter solstice can warm the yang, help the body to drive out the cold, and also warm the viscera.
2, eat dumplings in the south
Southerners eat dumplings on the winter solstice, which is especially popular in Jiangnan, China. Eating dumplings on the winter solstice is also called "Winter Solstice Group". It means round and round. There is a poem in ancient times: "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty".
In addition, among the people, there is also a saying that eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice means adding one year.
"When the winter solstice begins in the sun, it is a round rice, and it is round like the sun." It is said that the origin of the winter solstice festival is also related to the custom of "welcoming the sun" and influenced by the idea of "where the sun is like a circle", so the winter solstice has the custom of eating round food.
3. Minnan eats ginger duck.
The winter solstice is also a festival that Minnan people attach great importance to. Not only should we worship the heavens and ancestors, but every household should make up for it, and eat the isothermal food of ginger duck and siwu duck. Because the weather entered the coldest period after the winter solstice, Chinese medicine believes that ginger has the effect of warming and tonifying, while ducks nourish yin and replenish qi, so the folk in southern Fujian have the custom of tonic in the winter solstice so far.
4. Eat dog meat
The custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice is said to have started in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the winter solstice, which made him feel particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice has been formed among the people. Nowadays, people eat dog meat, mutton and various nourishing foods on the winter solstice in order to have a good omen for the coming year.
5. Eat red bean glutinous rice
In Jiangnan water town, there is a custom that the whole family get together on the night of the winter solstice to eat red beans and glutinous rice. According to legend, * * * Gong's was a gifted scholar who did many evils and died on the winter solstice. After his death, he became an epidemic ghost and continued to harm the people. However, this epidemic ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook red bean rice on the winter solstice to ward off the epidemic ghost and prevent and cure diseases.
People in ancient times attached great importance to the solar term of the winter solstice, and regarded it as a festival. There are many customs and habits that have been passed down so far. The above are a few customs and habits that I have compiled. If you have anything to add or want to say, please leave a message in the comments below.