The winter solstice is the 22nd solar term among the 24 solar terms, with a solar calendar of 270 degrees. It is celebrated on the 23rd day of the Gregorian calendar 65438+February 2 1 every year. The winter solstice marks the minimum height of the sun and the shortest day in the northern hemisphere, but the temperature in winter solstice is not the lowest. On the solstice of winter, the sun shines directly on the ground and reaches the southernmost tip of the year. The sun is almost directly on the tropic of Capricorn, and the sun is most inclined to the northern hemisphere.
The winter solstice has the shortest day and the longest night in all parts of the northern hemisphere, and the shorter the day is the farther north; After the arrival of winter, the direct point of the sun gradually moved northward, and the days in the northern hemisphere began to lengthen gradually; Therefore, the ancients believed that winter was the weakest day of the year, and then the yang gradually picked up. On the solstice of winter, people began to use nine to calculate the cold days. As the saying goes, the solstice in summer is three or three Geng, and the solstice in winter is nine Geng.
Winter solstice folklore:
Eating jiaozi: In northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every Lunar New Year. As the saying goes, on 10/day, when the solstice of winter comes, every family will eat jiaozi. This winter solstice custom is to commemorate. Zhang Zhongjing, a medical sage, gave up medicine on the solstice of winter. Of course there are exceptions. The custom of drinking mutton soup from winter solstice is popular in Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, which means driving away the cold.
Eating glutinous rice balls: In the south, it is popular to eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter. There is also a folk saying that eating glutinous rice balls can make you one year older. Tangyuan, also known as jiaozi, is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour, which means reunion and perfection, so eating jiaozi in winter solstice is also known as jiaozi in winter solstice. Tangyuan can be used for ancestor worship or as a gift to relatives and friends.
Giving away shoes: Giving away shoes is a folk custom during the winter solstice. Its origin is very old, mainly reflected in children's body and mind, hoping that children will grow up healthily. It used to be mainly hand embroidery. As a gift for boys, hats are mostly made in the shape of tigers and dogs, and embroidered shoes are also beasts. For girls, hats are mostly made in the shape of phoenix, and embroidery on shoes is mostly flowers and birds. Now most of them are bought from the market, and stones keep up with the trend of the times. On holidays, adults always like to drop in to see their children and praise the shoes and hats given by their uncles and aunts.