What does the winter solstice barrel mean?

The winter solstice refers to the position where bucket handle points to the north in the Big Dipper, indicating the arrival of the winter solstice.

The winter solstice is the earliest of the 24 solar terms. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, our ancestors used earth rules to observe the winter solstice with the shortest days and the longest nights in the northern hemisphere all year round. Judging the time of winter solstice according to the observed position of the bucket handle of the Big Dipper pointing to the north. As the first of the 24 solar terms, the winter solstice marks the official start of winter. The word "Zi" is the beginning of the earthly branch and time, putting the winter solstice in the first place and emphasizing its importance. The arrival of this solar term means that the sunshine is getting longer, the cold season is about to pass, and people can look forward to the arrival of spring.