What is the origin and significance of the winter solstice?

Winter solstice is one of the twenty-four solar terms and traditional festivals in China. It has the shortest day and the longest night. It is the coldest day in theory, but it is not. After this day, it indicates that the real winter is coming.

In ancient times, people regarded the winter solstice as a grand festival, so this day was also called "Winter Festival", "Dragon Solstice Festival" and "Child Year". In the Spring and Autumn Period, there were solar terms from winter to Sunday. In the Zhou Dynasty, solar terms became a festival, and many sacrificial activities were held on this day.

The custom of offering sacrifices continued until the Qing Dynasty. Later, because there was a special sacrificial festival, sacrifices were no longer held on the winter solstice. People only eat some traditional food on the solstice of winter to celebrate this reunion moment.

In ancient people's minds, it was forbidden to travel far from home on the solstice of winter, because it was a symbol of winter, but at the end of the year, family members had to have a family reunion dinner with Mei Mei. And after this day, it will snow heavily, and the river is full of ice, which is very cold.

The Origin and Significance of the Winter Solstice More than 2,500 years ago, China observed the sun with the earth and determined the winter solstice, which is also a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. People attach great importance to this day. The winter solstice is the earliest of the 24 solar terms in China. The winter solstice is commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Dragon Solstice Festival" and "Asian New Year Festival".

Ancient people thought that since the winter solstice, the yang of heaven and earth began to flourish, representing the beginning of the next cycle. This is a very auspicious day, so people often hold activities such as ancestor worship and family dinners from the winter solstice. The winter solstice is also called "off-year". First of all, it means that the China New Year is coming. Secondly, it means that the winter solstice is similar to the Spring Festival in China, which is very important.

In ancient times, the winter solstice was a very important festival. In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the solstice in winter was the day of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors. On the solstice of winter, the emperor went to the suburbs to hold a ceremony to worship heaven, while people had to worship their parents and elders. Now people still follow the tradition left by their ancestors. On the solstice of winter, they worship their ancestors and pray for peace in the coming year. There are also customs such as eating jiaozi and mutton.