What are the origins and customs of the winter solstice solar terms?

The origin of solar terms in winter solstice

The winter solstice is a very important solar term, and it is also a traditional festival in China's lunar calendar. Up to now, there are still many places where the winter solstice festival is held. The winter solstice is commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Dragon Solstice Festival" and "Asian New Year Festival". As early as 2500 years ago, during the Spring and Autumn Period, China had determined the winter solstice by observing the sun through the soil return, which was the earliest of the 24 solar terms.

In ancient China, the winter solstice was divided into three phases: "the first phase of earthworm knot; Two-phase angular solution; Third-class spring movement. " Legend has it that earthworms are creatures with yin bending and yang stretching. At this time, although the yang has increased, the yin is still very strong, and the earthworms in the soil are still curled up. Mi and deer belong to the same family, but Yin and Yang are different. The ancients thought that Mi Jiao was facing the afterlife, so it was Yin, while winter was Yang. Mi felt that Yin was receding and the angle was dissolved. Because of the birth of yang, the spring water in the mountain can flow and be warm at this time.

In most parts of southern China, it takes about 10 hour from sunrise to sunset. From winter to the future, as the earth orbits the sun, the direct sunlight belt gradually moves northward, making the days in the northern hemisphere gradually longer and the nights gradually shorter. In winter solstice, although the height of the sun is the lowest and the sunshine time is the shortest, the heat absorbed by the ground is more than the heat lost. After the winter solstice, it begins to count to nine, and every nine days is a "nine". Before and after the "March 9th", the heat accumulated on the ground was the least, and the weather was the coldest. In China, there is a folk proverb called "March 9th is cold, but the dog is hot".

In ancient China, people attached great importance to the winter solstice and thought it was a grand festival. There is a saying that the winter solstice is as big as a year, and there is a custom to celebrate it. "Han Shu" said: "The sun shines on the winter solstice, and you are long, so congratulations." People think that after the winter solstice, the days become longer and longer and the sun rises. This is the beginning of a solar cycle and an auspicious day, which should be celebrated. "Book of Jin" records "Wei, Jin, Winter Solstice Day, National Celebration for All People?" Its instruments are inferior to those of Zheng Dan. "Explain the solstice in ancient times the importance of winter.

Customs and activities of winter solstice in various places

1, eat jiaozi in the north.

Jiaozi, also known as jiaozi, is an ancient traditional pasta. Northerners eat jiaozi on the 30th. And "the winter solstice is as big as a year", of course, this is also a day to eat jiaozi. There is a folk proverb: "On October 1st, when the solstice of winter comes, every household will eat jiaozi". According to legend, eating jiaozi on the solstice is also related to China medical scientist Zhang Zhongjing. Jiaozi was invented by him as Joule. He treated many poor people with ears damaged by hunger and cold at that time with "Quhanjoule Decoction". People also eat jiaozi in memory of him on New Year's Day and winter solstice. There is also a saying that eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter won't freeze your ears.

2. Ningxia people eat "brains"

During the winter solstice in Yinchuan, Ningxia, we should eat a delicious food called "brain". "Brain" is actually mutton powder soup jiaozi, which is made of mutton and mushrooms, onions, ginger, garlic, pepper, salt and soy sauce. After boiling, add chopped slices and soaked vermicelli, then add chopped garlic sprouts, coriander and leek, and a pot of mutton powder soup is ready. This is also a special snack in Yinchuan.

3. Eat jiaozi in Shanghai.

Eating jiaozi on the winter solstice, also known as the "winter solstice group", is particularly popular in the south of the Yangtze River. According to historical records, this custom existed in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. In the past, Shanghainese were most particular about eating glutinous rice balls, which meant "perfection" and "reunion", symbolizing family harmony and auspiciousness. The winter solstice group can also be used to worship ancestors and give gifts to relatives and friends.

Suzhou people eat wonton in winter and remember rocks.

Suzhou was the capital of the State of Wu 2,500 years ago. The ancestor of the State of Wu was a descendant of King Tai of Zhou. He inherited the calendar of the Zhou Dynasty and started the year from winter to Sunday. Up to now, the ancient city of Suzhou still has the custom of "the winter solstice is as big as a year".

In winter solstice, Suzhou people also have the custom of eating wonton. According to legend, the prince of Wu was tired of eating delicacies and had no appetite, so the beauty went into the chef and packed a snack for him. The king of Wu ate a big bowl in one breath and repeatedly asked, "What kind of snack is this, so delicious?" Stone thought, "confused monarch can't get rid of chaos, so he casually replied," chaos. Later, in order to commemorate the delicious food created by the teacher, Suzhou people designated wonton as the food for the winter festival.

5. Worship ancestors and eat incense pills in the winter solstice in Chaoshan area.

In Chaoshan area, winter solstice, also known as "Little New Year", is a large-scale folk festival. On this day, ordinary people should prepare enough three kinds of animals and fruits, such as pork, chicken and fish, to go to the ancestral temple to worship their ancestors, and then their families will sit around the table and have a meal. In coastal areas, fishermen should worship their ancestors before going fishing, pray for the fishermen and pray for the gods and ancestors to bless their safe return from the sea.

There is a saying in Chaoshan that "eat the winter festival round for one year", in which "the winter festival round" is the glutinous rice balls, which are also called sweet pills in Chaoshan area. The custom of eating sweet pills from winter solstice is almost common in Chaoshan area. A long time ago, these sweet pills were not only used for eating, but also pasted on the roofs and beams of their homes. First, the sweet pills are round, which indicates a bumper harvest and family reunion next year. Secondly, they are used to thank the mice for sending five seeds to farmers. Nowadays, people don't eat sweet pills, but the custom of eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is still popular today.

6. Eat red bean glutinous rice at the winter solstice festival in Jiangnan water town.

In the southern water town of China, it is a custom for the whole family to get together to eat red beans and glutinous rice on the night of winter solstice.

According to legend, * * * Gong was a troubled wit who died in the winter. Become a plague ghost after death and continue to harm the people. However, this epidemic ghost is most afraid of red beans, so people cook red beans and glutinous rice on the solstice in winter to drive away the epidemic ghost and prevent disasters.

People in Hangzhou eat rice cakes three times a day.

People in Hangzhou like to eat rice cakes on the solstice in winter to celebrate. Every winter solstice, people make cakes to worship their ancestors or give them to relatives and friends. In diet, three meals will make different flavors of rice cakes, such as rice cakes mixed with sesame powder and sugar, fried rice cakes with shredded pork and so on. People in Hangzhou eat rice cakes on the solstice in winter for good luck, which means getting old.

Various winter solstice eating customs on the land of China are still widely spread today, which is enough to show the important influence of this day on people's farming, work and life. Indeed, when winter comes, the solstice is the cathode and the sun is the spirit. After that, there was slight chills, severe chills and a count of nine, which indicated that the coldest day of the year was coming. Therefore, after the winter solstice, we should pay more attention to keep warm and eat more warm food in our diet to enhance our ability to keep out the cold.