The Winter Solstice is not only one of the twenty-four solar terms, but also a traditional festival in my country, which is deeply valued by people. The Winter Solstice is a solar term and a festival, and the most indispensable thing on that day is delicious food. Dumplings are one of the must-eat foods during the Winter Solstice. However, many young people now don’t know why dumplings are eaten during the Winter Solstice. Let’s follow me to find out. !
At 18:02 on December 21, 2020, we will usher in the "Winter Solstice" solar term. From this day on, we will enter the "Ninth Cold Day", commonly known as "Jinjiu". "Winter Solstice is like the New Year", this is a season deep in the middle of winter, a festival called "sub-year" by the ancients, and a day when I miss you the longest.
The winter solstice is the fourth solar term in winter. After the winter solstice, the days in the northern hemisphere gradually become longer and the nights gradually shortened. This winter solstice will also see an astronomical spectacle that has occurred in the past 400 years. On December 21, the rare celestial phenomenon of "civil and wood conjunction" will appear in the sky. This is the closest approach between the two planets in the past 400 years. If you miss it today, you will have to wait 60 years.
However, in the eyes of many foodies, the Winter Solstice is a solar term with its own fragrance. Eating a plate of hot and fragrant dumplings on this day is definitely a good way to cure the cold winter. . Many people believe that northerners eat dumplings whenever there is a solar term or festival, but don’t think so. Eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice is not just following the trend, but has a basis.
It is said that the medical sage Zhang Zhongjing was on his way back to his hometown after retirement. When he saw the people suffering from the cold, he asked his disciples to boil mutton, chili peppers and cold-repelling medicinal materials in a pot, take them out and chop them into pieces. Wrap the dough in the shape of an ear, boil it in a pot and make a medicine called "Quhan Jiao Er Soup", which is distributed to the people. After eating, people feel warm all over and their frostbitten ears are healed.
Later, every winter solstice, people imitated it and made it into food. In order to distinguish it from the medicinal "Jiaoer Soup", it was called "Dumpling Er". As time went by, people changed its name to "Dumpling Er". dumpling". To this day, eating dumplings on the day of the Winter Solstice also means having a reunion.
In addition to eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice, each place also has its own traditional food.
The custom of eating dog meat during the Winter Solstice is said to have started in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the day of the winter solstice. He thought it tasted particularly delicious and was full of praise. Since then, the folk custom of eating dog meat during the winter solstice has been formed. Nowadays, people eat dog meat, mutton and various nutritious foods on the day of the winter solstice in order to have a good omen in the coming year. In particular, dog meat stewed with tofu is one of the so-called "Eight Great Stews in Northeast China".
Suzhou people have many food customs during the Winter Solstice. They eat "Reunion Dinner", and the names of the meals are very elegant. Egg dumplings are called "Yuanbao", bean sprouts are called "Ruyi Cai", vermicelli are called "Golden Chain", The fish is called "more than enough to eat" and so on. Wonton is also a staple food that Suzhou people must eat during the Winter Solstice. There is a local saying of "Winter Solstice Wonton and Summer Solstice Noodles".