The winter solstice, also known as "Winter Festival" and "Happy Winter", is one of the twenty-four solar terms in China and one of the eight astronomical solar terms, which is opposite to the summer solstice. The winter solstice begins when the sun reaches 270 degrees of the yellow meridian, which is about 65438+February 22 of the Gregorian calendar every year. It is said that the solstice in winter is the New Year's Day of the Zhou Dynasty in history, and it used to be a very lively day.

Eating red bean rice in winter comes from Ningbo, which has a history of 1600 years. It is said to be to prevent the plague. Ningbo nursery rhymes: "Dede Dede, sell Sekihan. Three catties of walnuts and four catties of shells. Uncle Zhang asked Nong for a kitten and yellow dog. "

There are three kinds of folk sayings about the origin of eating red bean rice from winter solstice in Ningbo. By the way, I want to introduce you to two winter solstice customs in Ningbo. Let's take a look:

First,? What is the origin of eating red bean rice?

One of the reasons for eating red bean rice from winter solstice in Ningbo: driving away epidemic ghosts

According to legend, * * * Gong died in the winter and became a god of plague, which continued to harm the people. However, this epidemic ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook red bean rice on the solstice in winter to drive away the epidemic ghost and prevent disaster.

In ancient Ningbo, people generally believed in superstition and were afraid of ghosts and gods. They believe that adults and children suffer from strokes and poor health because of the spectre of epidemics. These evil spirits have nothing to fear, and they are most afraid of red beans. Therefore, people in Ningbo cook red bean rice on the solstice in winter to drive away epidemic ghosts and prevent diseases.

The second origin of eating red bean rice from winter solstice in Ningbo: playing with ghosts with red beans

Legend has it that Zhuan Xu, one of the five emperors in ancient times, turned his three sons into evil spirits after his death and came out to scare children. In ancient times, people generally believed in superstition and were afraid of ghosts and gods. They believe that adults and children suffer from strokes and poor health because of the spectre of epidemics. These evil spirits are fearless, only afraid of red (red) beans, so there is a saying that "red beans play ghosts." Therefore, in winter to the sun, use adzuki beans and adzuki beans to cook rice to drive away the epidemic and welcome good luck.

In any case, in the winter solstice night, a bowl of sweet and nutritious red bean glutinous rice can always make people feel relaxed and happy. In Ningbo, the custom of the whole family getting together to eat red bean rice from winter to Sunday night has been passed down to this day.

The third source of eating red bean rice from winter solstice in Ningbo: in memory of cowherd

Up to now, there is a legend circulating in Ningbo. Once upon a time, there was a cowherd who was hacked to death by the landlord for fighting with him, and the rice scattered on the ground was dyed red with blood. This day is the solstice of winter. From then on, the poor had to eat red bean rice to commemorate his solstice in winter. Later generations regard the solstice of winter as a mourning day and use red bean rice as a drink.

Second,? Solstice custom in winter in Ningbo?

One of the winter solstice customs in Ningbo: sweet potato soup and fruit

In the traditional customs of Ningbo, sweet potato soup is one of the must-eat foods in winter solstice. "Fan" and "Fan" are homophones. In Ningbo people's understanding, eating sweet potatoes on the solstice in winter means "turning over" all the bad luck of the past year.

Tang Guo is a must-eat food for Ningbo people in winter solstice. People in Ningbo have a saying that eating soup makes you one year older. Tang Guo is similar to dumplings, meaning "reunion" and "perfection", but Tang Guo is smaller and there is no stuffing in it.

People in Ningbo celebrate the winter solstice. In the old society, every family rubbed jiaozi with reed powder, which was called reed soup fruit. Later, it was gradually changed to glutinous rice balls, and sweet potato granules were added, which was called sweet potato soup fruit. Kitchen God first, then the whole family. Commonly known as "Winter Night to the New Year's Eve", slang "Winter Night to the Sun is as big as a year, and the emperor wants Xie Nian". On this day, the elders tell the children not to cry, and adults should not beat and scold the children or throw things, otherwise it will be considered unlucky.

The second custom of winter solstice in Ningbo: baking turnip rice cakes

On the day before the winter solstice, Ningbo people generally don't go out. On the morning of winter solstice, the whole family has the custom of eating radish and baking rice cakes. The turnip rice cake is a simple traditional food in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. Around the winter solstice, the daughter or daughter-in-law of Ningbo people will cook a radish baked rice cake to welcome this occasion, which indicates a better life. Baked rice cakes with kohlrabi are more common, and soy sauce, sugar and salt can be used! When cooking turnip baked rice cakes and vegetables, you can make this delicious rice cake by the way!

On the eve of winter solstice, every family bakes kohlrabi, and the fire in the big stove is very prosperous. Wash kohlrabi, peel and cut into pieces, and don't waste leaves. Cut off the potholes on the surface and put them in a wok. Cut the slices thicker, otherwise they will be easy to cook and chopsticks will not hold them. First put the kohlrabi in, then enlarge the rice cake, turn it over, put some soy sauce, and then cover the burning firewood with grass ash. The firewood will burn in the dark all night and cook with slow fire. The kohlrabi will stew in the pot all night. The next morning, when the water will boil dry, add sugar and salt, and then pour a layer of vegetable oil into the wok, and the delicious radish baked rice cake will be ready!

The key to baking rice cakes with kohlrabi on the solstice in winter is that on the night of the solstice in winter, the stove fire will not go out, and every family will burn it and pass it on from generation to generation. A prosperous life is the most real and basic expectation of the people, and the rice cake means "high every year."

There is a folk saying that "if you eat more red beans in winter, people will bask in the sun and get rid of illness and strengthen their health." Eating red bean glutinous rice on the solstice in winter is both warm and nourishing the stomach, which is very suitable for winter.