Is the winter solstice one of the 24 solar terms?

"Winter Solstice Day" is not only one of the 24 solar terms, but also an important festival in China since ancient times. With solar terms as festivals, only Tomb-Sweeping Day and the winter solstice festival. Historically, the winter solstice festival and the New Year's Festival are almost equal, so there has always been a saying that "the winter solstice is as big as a year". Here is a detailed answer to the question "Why is the winter solstice as big as a year" from three aspects.

1. See its important position from its historical development and evolution? From the records, we can see the historical grand occasion of the traditional festival "Winter Solstice Festival".

? The "winter solstice festival" appeared very early, and "winter solstice" was regarded as "small year" in the Zhou Dynasty. Because in the Zhou Dynasty, the November of the lunar calendar was the first month, and this month's "winter solstice" became a "small year". As it is celebrated as a year, we can see the prosperity of the festival at that time.

? In the Han Dynasty, people called the solstice of winter "Winter Festival", and the ceremony to celebrate the festival was held in the officialdom. This is probably equivalent to the modern "group meeting", which was called "He Dong" at that time.

? During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the winter of solstice was called "off-year", which means "off-year". People should pay New Year greetings to their parents and elders on this day. This is the origin of "winter solstice" as "year" The Tang Dynasty still followed the old customs.

? In the Song Dynasty, the winter solstice developed into a festival to worship ancestors. "Tokyo Dream" recorded this point. At that time, in the "most important winter solstice festival" in the capital (Kaifeng), whenever the winter solstice festival came, people would put on new clothes, buy festive food and drinks, offer sacrifices to their ancestors and celebrate each other. That scene is really like the Spring Festival, so the ancients called it "just like the Spring Festival". Later, it was still used in the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.

? So far, the title of "off-year" has been retained, and the saying that "the solstice in winter is as big as a year" has also been retained.

Second, look at its important position from the duration? Since ancient times, the winter solstice has lasted for two days. The day before is called "winter night", the day from winter solstice is called "winter solstice", and in some places it is called "due east".

? Why can we have a two-day festival from the winter solstice? At this time, it belongs to the "slack season", and the farming in the whole year is basically over, and the grain harvest is returned to the warehouse. The farming in the coming year has not yet started, and it is in the "gap period" of the whole year. This provides the basis of "national leisure" in time. There are two important driving forces: first, the harvest is completed and needs to be celebrated; Second, you need to relax after a year of fatigue. When these points are combined, it is "hit it off", so there is a two-day festival-the winter solstice festival. Of all the festivals in a year, only Nian matches it, so it is called "the winter solstice is as big as Nian".

Third, look at the important position of folk custom from its grandeur? Because the winter solstice is a "small year", it pays attention to customs like the "New Year". In ancient times, whenever the winter solstice came, sheep were slaughtered, and jiaozi and wonton were eaten in the north of China, while dumplings and long noodles were eaten in the south of China. People will also worship their ancestors on this day.

? We can see the grand occasion from the records of the ancients. In the Qing Dynasty, Ren Lu once recorded the grand occasion of "winter is a year long". In order to ensure the original appearance and let everyone have a comprehensive understanding, I have extracted the main contents as follows:

? The winter solstice festival is the most important festival in the county. On the first day, relatives and friends gave food to each other, carrying baskets and boxes, and flooded the road, calling it the "winter solstice dish". The night before the festival is called "winter solstice night". At night, people swallow faster, which is called "saving wine". If a woman gets married and goes back to her home, she will go back to her husband's home. Families, big or small, should enjoy food first, and occasionally some people hang the remains of their ancestors. Various sketches are added to regular festivals, so there is a proverb that "the solstice in winter is as big as a year"

? The general meaning of this passage is as follows:

The people in this county attach the most importance to the winter solstice festival. Before the festival comes, relatives and friends give food to each other. Gift givers, carrying baskets and boxes, crowded the road. This custom is called "winter solstice dish". The night before the winter solstice festival is usually called "Winter solstice night". On the night of winter solstice, families invite people to eat and drink in turn, which is called "saving wine" If a married woman is still at her mother's house, she must go to her husband's house for a holiday on this day. Whether it is a big family or a small family, they have to buy food to worship their ancestors, and some still hang portraits of their ancestors. In various etiquette regulations, this festival is more grand than ordinary festivals, so there is a proverb that "the winter solstice is as big as a year".

? From these accounts, we fully feel the ancient people's attention and admiration for the Winter Solstice Festival, which truly reflects that the Winter Solstice Festival is as grand and lively as the New Year.