Where is the custom of eating mutton on the solstice in winter?

Eating mutton on the solstice in winter is a custom in Sichuan.

It is said that the custom of eating mutton from winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu, ate dog meat cooked by Fan Kuai on the solstice of winter, which was particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, eating dog meat from winter solstice has spread among the people, not only eating dog meat, but also eating mutton and various tonics, hoping to have a good sign in the coming year.

Therefore, the custom of eating mutton soup in winter solstice is widely spread in Sichuan. People eat mutton and various nourishing foods on the solstice of winter in order to have a good omen for the coming year. Now Tengzhou, Shandong Province, this day is called Fuxi Nine. Before the festival, the elders will be given mutton and other gifts, and everyone will drink mutton soup in Fujiu, which is a good sign for individuals, elders and families.

Eating more mutton in cold weather is good for your health, but when eating mutton hot pot or mutton pot, it is not advisable to rinse thoroughly and cook it for the sake of tender meat. It is best to choose mutton slices that have passed the quality inspection and rinse them thoroughly until they are cooked. Eating mutton is also very particular, not suitable for eating with pumpkin, vinegar, tea and sashimi.

Astronomical calendar

As an important node of the 24 solar terms in China, the winter solstice has the shortest day and the longest night in the north of the equator. The solstice in winter is the limit of the sun's southward travel. On this day, the height of the sun in the northern hemisphere is the smallest. On this day, the sun shines directly on the tropic of Capricorn, which is most biased towards the northern hemisphere. The solstice in winter is the turning point of the sun's southward travel. After this day, we will "turn around". The direct point of the sun will move northward from the Tropic of Capricorn (23 26' s), and the daytime in the northern hemisphere (China is located in the northern hemisphere) will increase day by day.

From winter to around, the earth is located near the perihelion, and its running speed is slightly faster, resulting in that the time for the sun to directly shine in the southern hemisphere is about 8 days shorter than that in the northern hemisphere, so the winter in the northern hemisphere is slightly shorter than that in summer.