Solar terms for drinking mutton soup

Summer solar terms are just around the Mid-Autumn Festival in the dog days, which is the period with the most sunshine and the highest temperature in China. Most parts of the country are dry and lack of rain, and the temperature in many areas is above 35 degrees, commonly known as "three stoves". Many areas in Shandong have the custom of "drinking summer sheep" (that is, drinking mutton soup) on the day of summer heat.

Eating mutton in dog days is the most nutritious. In dog days, heat accumulates in the human body. At this time, drinking mutton soup and drinking Chili oil, vinegar and garlic will inevitably make you sweat all over. This kind of sweat can take away the heat accumulated in the five internal organs and expel toxins from the body, which is beneficial to health.

The origin of drinking mutton soup in summer

It is understood that Zaozhuang people's habit of eating sheep in summer is related to local farming and climate. Zaozhuang is a famous wheat producing area. When it enters summer, it is the end of wheat harvest, and when new wheat comes on the market, it is a short off-season. After the summer harvest, people are tired and should have a rest and enjoy themselves.

At that time, what could be delicious in the countryside was to eat a new wheat steamed stuffed bun. Some people just kill a sheep mercilessly. I didn't want to eat, so I took my married daughter back, ate new wheat buns and drank mutton soup. Over time, the folk custom of drinking sheep was formed.