What is the origin of the winter solstice?

The winter solstice is the 22nd solar term in the "Twenty-four Solar Terms", and the longitude of the sun reaches 270 degrees. It falls on the 20th or 22nd or 23rd of February in the Gregorian calendar 65438+every year, which is a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The custom of winter solstice originated in Han Dynasty and flourished in Tang and Song Dynasties. The solstice in winter is a traditional festival in China, so it is celebrated all over the country. The customs in most areas are similar, but each area still has its own characteristics.

There are only two theories about the origin of the winter solstice, but there are many customs about the winter solstice. By the way, introduce three customs of winter solstice. Let's take a look:

First,? What is the origin of winter solstice?

? One of the origins of the winter solstice: from the dry calendar theory?

Speaking of the origin of the winter solstice, it is inseparable from the division of the 24 solar terms. In ancient times, people took the Big Dipper as a reference and bucket handle as a year, and combined with the ten-day and twelve-day branches, the year was divided into 24 nodes to reflect the influence of "time, climate and phenology" on agricultural production. This kind of calendar year is called the calendar year of cadres and branches, and these 24 solar terms are 24 solar terms. Therefore, the winter solstice also came into being.

In the dry year, the 24 solar terms begin in the beginning of spring and end in the cold. During the period of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, in order to make the 24 solar terms better guide agricultural production, this is the taichu calendar promulgated during the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty. In taichu calendar, the winter solstice is the first of the 24 solar terms and the beginning of a year. Therefore, on this day, people will hold a grand ceremony and have a holiday, which is called "Hedong" and is finally designated as the winter solstice.

? The Second Origin of the Winter Solstice: Tu Youyou's Theory of Shadow Measurement?

The first of the 24 solar terms determined by Duke Zhou is the "winter solstice" determined by standard chart mapping, and is considered to be the first of the 24 solar terms. The essence of the method of Tuguitu is that "the tree is eight feet long and the summer solstice is five inches long; On the solstice of winter, the scene is one foot, three feet and five inches long, measuring the depth of the soil, the sun shining, looking for the ground and testing for four hours. According to legend, the Central Plains of China began to use the soil gauge method to measure shadows more than 3,000 years ago, and its position in the world was measured in Luoyi, Henan Province, and it was designated as soil.

From winter to the sun, the sun has the lowest height and the longest shadow at noon; Astronomically, because the sun shines directly on the ground from the winter solstice to the southernmost point of the year, the sun shines directly on the tropic of Capricorn, and the sun is most inclined to the northern hemisphere, so the shadow is the longest. From summer to the sun, the sun is the highest and the shadow is the shortest at noon; Because the position where the sun shines directly on the ground from summer to morning reaches the northernmost point of the year, the sun shines directly on the tropic of cancer; China is located in the northern hemisphere, and the Tropic of Cancer runs through our territory. On the solstice of summer, there is no shadow of the Tropic of Cancer. After long-term repeated observation and recording of the midday sun shadow, the longest and shortest positions of the sun shadow in a year can be determined, thus establishing the winter solstice and the summer solstice.

As early as the 20th century BC, China Central Plains began to use the "standard table" to measure shadows. Soil gauge is a tool for measuring the length of sun shadow. By measuring the shadow with the "ghost table" and the length of the shadow displayed by the soil gauge, the winter solstice can be obtained.

Second,? The custom of winter solstice?

? One of the solstice winter customs: hiding winter ice?

In the north, ice storage is usually carried out around the winter solstice. On the solstice of winter, ice cubes will be stored in the cellar, sealed tightly, and all kinds of fresh fruits will be hidden at the same time. After spring, they will be taken out and sold in the market, and the color is just like that just picked from the tree.

People cut ice from the river with iron solder, which is more than one foot wide and more than two feet long. This is called a party. On the solstice of winter, the ice is hidden in a cellar about 20 feet deep. After the ice is stored, the cellar is sealed immediately, and all kinds of fresh fruits are hidden and sold after the spring. The color is like picking it from a tree. As usual, residents in the southern coastal areas repaired the igloo from winter to the future and stored ice cubes to keep the fish fresh during the next year's fishing.

In ancient times, there was no such advanced refrigeration technology as now, and it was impossible to make ice cubes artificially. However, the clever ancients skillfully used the production conditions at that time and explored a set of methods to use natural ice to cool off the heat, specifically, "winter ice for summer use", which is the origin of the custom of storing winter ice.

? The second custom of winter solstice: giving shoes in winter solstice?

In the winter solstice festival, there is also the custom of giving shoes, which has a very old origin. "China's Notes on Ancient and Modern Times" said: "There were embroidered mandarin ducks in the Han Dynasty, and Emperor Zhao ordered his aunt to go to the winter solstice." Cao Zhi's "Winter Solstice Socks and Shoes Table" also has a sentence: "Welcome in the coming year and celebrate for a long time."

On the winter solstice, people will give shoes. This custom originated in ancient times and is mainly reflected in children, 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 purchased from the market, and the form keeps 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.

There is a sentence in the reflection of the three kingdoms, offering socks and shoes to the sun, and it is recorded in Youyang Miscellanies that "women in the northern dynasties often wear socks and boots to the sun." Solstice of winter: "The sun is born below, the sun is always in the sky, and the scenery is blessed for a long time." As for 100 million years. " Therefore, the previous winter solstice was also called "Dragon Walking Festival". It means that the sun shines on the solstice in winter, and the newborn yang begins to go up from the ground, that is, from the feet, so send a pair of shoes to protect the newborn yang and ensure safety. As the saying goes, "The winter solstice is sunny, and the shoes are safe and healthy", that's what it means.

? The third custom of winter solstice: eating wonton?

Eating wonton in winter is good for your health. Wonton used to be a popular food in the north, but now South Renye Fang likes to eat it on the solstice in winter. There is a saying in old Beijing that "winter solstice wonton, summer solstice noodles". Eating wonton in winter is not only similar in shape, but also beneficial to the storage of heat energy in cold season.

Wonton used to be a very popular food in the north, but now South Renye Fang likes to eat it on the solstice in winter. There is a saying in old Beijing that "winter solstice wonton, summer solstice noodles". "Yanjing Years Old" says: "The shape of husband's wonton is like a chicken egg, which is quite similar to the chaos of heaven and earth, so it is eaten from winter to the sun." In addition to similar shapes, "wonton" is also homophonic with "chaos". Eating wonton in winter is beneficial to the storage of heat energy in cold season. Drink a bowl of wonton in the winter solstice and warm yourself with steaming heat.

Eating wonton on the solstice in winter and noodles on the solstice in summer is a kind of eating habit formed by old Beijingers according to the seasons. According to legend, Suzhou people eat wonton in winter to commemorate the Great Beauty Stone. It is also said that there were two leaders in the Han Dynasty, Xiongnu and Tun, which were very cruel. The people hated it, so they wrapped it into a corner with meat stuffing and called it "wonton" with the sound of "muddy" and "swallowing". I hate eating, and I want to quell the war and live a peaceful life. Because wonton was originally made on the winter solstice, every family eats wonton on the winter solstice.

During the winter solstice, people will eat many traditional foods. Some areas will eat steamed stuffed buns, rice cakes and rice cakes, which are all related to local eating habits and customs. In fact, no matter what you eat, everyone's original intention is the same, to welcome the arrival of the winter solstice and celebrate the arrival of the New Year.