Are there any customs on the solstice in winter?

Personally, I think the annual winter solstice festival is coming again. The winter solstice is not only a very important solar term, but also a very grand traditional festival. Let's briefly introduce some folk festivals and customs of the winter solstice festival and see if you have them there.

First, ancestor worship

In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the solstice in winter was the day of ancestor worship. On this day, the emperor went to the suburbs to hold a grand ceremony to worship heaven, and the people also worshipped their deceased parents and ancestors on this day.

Second, eat wonton,

As early as the Southern Song Dynasty, people in Lin 'an ate wonton on the solstice in winter. At first, it was just for ancestor worship, but it gradually became popular, and there was a saying among the people that "the solstice in winter was the solstice in Wonton Noodles last summer". Today, the custom of eating wonton has spread all over the country and become a famous snack that people like.

Third, take sweet pills.

In Chaoshan area, there is still the custom of eating sweet pills. After people worship their ancestors on this day, they will take out some sweet pills and stick them on their doortops, beams and rice jars. Because the sweet pill is sweet and round, it symbolizes a beautiful meaning, which indicates that there will be another bumper harvest next year, and people can live and work in peace and contentment and have a family reunion.

Fourth, eat jiaozi.

Eating jiaozi is also a traditional custom from winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. Tangyuan is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour, and "round" means "perfection" and "reunion". Eating glutinous rice balls on the solstice of winter is also an expectation for a better life.

Five, eat dog meat, mutton

According to legend, Liu Bang, the Emperor Gaozu, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the winter solstice, which was delicious and full of praise, so the custom of eating dog meat on the winter solstice was formed among the people. Because Chinese medicine believes that mutton and dog meat have aphrodisiac and tonic effects, folks still have the custom of tonic from winter to the sun.

Sixth, eat jiaozi.

In many places, it is customary to eat jiaozi from the solstice in winter. In China, no matter rich or poor, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday food on people's table. According to legend, the custom of eating jiaozi in winter solstice is because Zhang Zhongjing does not forget to give alms to "dispel cold and charming ear soup". There is a saying among Nanyang people that "jiaozi can't be reached on the solstice in winter, and nobody cares if you freeze your ears".

Seven, give shoes and socks.

Because on the winter solstice, the sun happens to be at the South Pole, and the shadow is the longest, so the ancients dedicated their shoes and socks to their elders to celebrate the winter solstice and express their longest shadow and wish their elders a long life.