Winter Solstice is one of the traditional Chinese solar terms and the first solar term in winter in our country. In Sichuan, the Winter Solstice has unique customs and traditional food. In Sichuan, people celebrate the winter solstice with food to pray for a good harvest and happiness in the coming year.

Traditional delicacies

The traditional delicacies of Sichuan Winter Solstice mainly include dumplings, glutinous rice balls and hot and sour noodles.

Dumplings

Dumplings are one of the indispensable traditional delicacies of Sichuan during the Winter Solstice. The steps for making dumplings are as follows:

Prepare dumpling wrappers and fillings. You can make dumpling wrappers yourself or buy them ready-made. You can choose pork, leeks, shrimps, etc. as fillings.

Mix fillings and seasonings evenly.

Put the filling into the dumpling wrapper and pinch the mouth tightly.

Put the dumplings into boiling water and cook.

Take out the dumplings and eat them with soy sauce or vinegar.

Tangyuan

Tangyuan is another important traditional delicacy during the Winter Solstice in Sichuan. The steps for making glutinous rice balls are as follows:

Prepare glutinous rice flour and water.

Mix glutinous rice flour and water evenly and knead into dough.

Divide the dough into small pieces and shape into rounds.

Put the glutinous rice balls into boiling water and cook.

Take out the glutinous rice balls and add sugar water or sesame paste to eat.

Hot and Sour Rice Noodles

Hot and Sour Rice Noodles is another special delicacy of Sichuan Winter Solstice. The steps for making hot and sour noodles are as follows:

Prepare sweet potato vermicelli, bean sprouts, eggs, peppers, chopped green onions and other ingredients.

Cook the sweet potato vermicelli and set aside.

Blan the bean sprouts.

Crack the eggs and fry them into egg pancakes.

Chop the peppers and chop the green onions into fine pieces.

Put the cooked sweet potato vermicelli, bean sprouts and egg cake into a bowl.

Add appropriate amount of chili pepper and chopped green onion, and pour hot soup.

You can add vinegar, peanut butter and other seasonings according to your personal taste.

Customs

In addition to traditional food, Sichuan also has some unique customs during the Winter Solstice.

Eating Dumplings

In Sichuan, on the Winter Solstice, people will reunite with their families, make dumplings together, and then eat them together. The custom of eating dumplings represents reunion and happiness.

Boiled glutinous rice balls

In Sichuan, people also cook glutinous rice balls and eat them on the Winter Solstice. The custom of cooking glutinous rice balls represents reunion and prays for happiness and success in the coming year.

Sacrificing ancestors

In Sichuan, people will also worship ancestors on the winter solstice and pray to them to protect their families’ safety and health.

End

The Winter Solstice in Sichuan is an important solar term, and people celebrate this festival through food and customs. Whether it is traditional food or unique customs, they all reflect the Sichuan people's yearning for happiness and reunion. I hope that in the coming winter solstice, people can continue to inherit and carry forward these beautiful traditions.