Why did the ancients think that the solstice in winter was a "good day"?

"The weather and personnel are reminded every day, and the winter solstice brings Yang Shengchun back." Winter solstice is the fourth solar term in winter, and it is also an important festival. People always say that the solstice in winter is as big as a year.

The ancients believed that the winter solstice is an important solar term for the transformation of yin and yang, representing the beginning of the next cycle, and it is a good day, and "counting nine" began from now on. Jiaozi, glutinous rice balls and other foods are "seasonal meals" at this time, and the pace of the New Year is approaching.

Data Map: Five Blessingg Dumpling Banquet welcomes the winter solstice. Han she

When the solstice of winter comes, "Counting Nine" begins.

The winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms, which is opposite to the summer solstice, and the time is around 65438+February 22 of the Gregorian calendar every year. At this time, the sun reached 270 degrees.

On the solstice in winter, the direct sunlight reaches the southernmost point of the year, almost directly on the tropic of Capricorn. On this day, the northern hemisphere gets the least sunshine and the shortest day. The farther north, the shorter the day.

Similarly, it is also because the sun has the lowest height and the shortest sunshine time from winter to morning, and the heat absorbed by the ground is less than the heat lost, so the weather is generally cold. Count to nine from the solstice in winter, and every nine days is a nine. By the time of "99", the weather turned warmer, and most parts of the country entered spring, which is also commonly known as "99 sunny day".

According to the traditional theory of Yin-Yang and Five Elements, winter solstice is an important solar term of "Yin-Yang transformation", so there is also a saying that "winter solstice is sunrise and one sun". At the same time, the setting of leap month is also based on the winter solstice.

Why is it called "Winter Festival"?

Traditionally, the winter solstice is an important solar term, also known as "winter festival" and "happy winter".

Data Map: On February 22nd, 65438, 1898, the sacrificial ceremony of the Winter Solstice of the Lunar New Year was held in Zoucheng, Shandong, the hometown of Mencius. China News Service reporter Sha photo

According to records, the first month of the Zhou calendar is November of the Xia calendar, that is to say, the first month of the Zhou Dynasty is equivalent to our present November. At that time, the Zhou Dynasty celebrated the New Year with the winter solstice at the beginning of the year, so there was no difference between celebrating the New Year and celebrating the New Year.

In the Western Han Dynasty, Liang Wudi adopted the summer calendar to distinguish the first month from the winter solstice. Hanshu records: "The sun shines brightly in the winter solstice, and the monarch is long, so congratulations …" It means that people originally celebrated the winter solstice festival to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

The ancients believed that since the winter solstice, the sun be the spirit of heaven and earth began to flourish, representing the beginning of the next cycle, which was a lucky day. So later, every Spring Festival, at this time, there are often customs such as ancestor worship and family banquet.

During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the solstice in winter was also called "Cliff Year". On this day, people will pay homage to their parents and elders. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the solstice of winter and the beginning of a year were both important. The description of the winter solstice in the Dream of China in Tokyo by Meng Yuanlao in the Southern Song Dynasty is as follows: "... Although the poor have accumulated fake loans within one year, it is easier to get new clothes, prepare meals and enjoy ancestor worship. Officials let go and celebrate exchanges, just like the Chinese New Year. "

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the emperor held a ceremony to worship heaven, which was called "the winter solstice suburb". In the palace, there was a ceremony in which hundreds of officials congratulated the emperor and stabbed each other to congratulate each other. People will also celebrate this festival with joy.

Eating jiaozi and drinking mutton soup ... What's the custom in winter?

As a festival with a long history, the solstice in winter naturally has many interesting customs.

Data Map: 65438+February 2 1 is the traditional solar term in China-winter solstice. On the same day, the reporter visited a number of mutton restaurants in Chongqing and saw