Why is winter the solstice?

As early as 2500 years ago, during the Spring and Autumn Period, China observed the sun with soil gauge and determined the winter solstice. It is the earliest of the 24 solar terms, and the time is around February 23, 65438 in the solar calendar every year. Winter solstice, called "short day" and "short day" in ancient times, is the year with the shortest day and the longest night in all seasons in the northern hemisphere. Yes, it means extremely top. On the solstice of winter, the sun shines almost directly on the tropic of Capricorn. After the winter solstice, the days in the northern hemisphere will be longer day by day.

After the winter solstice, the climate is close to the coldest stage, which is what people call "counting nine". There is a folk saying that "Sanjiu is cold and Sanjiu is hot". The "Jiujiu Song" reflecting the climate began on the day of winter solstice, the first nine and the last nine. . . It has been cold until 998 1 year, and it was not until the winter solstice that it was called "several cold days". In the northern region, there are customs of slaughtering sheep, eating jiaozi and wonton on the solstice in winter.

The winter solstice is a very important solar term, and it is also a traditional festival of the China lunar calendar. So far, there are still many places where the custom of winter solstice remains. The solstice in winter is commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Longzhong Festival" and "Asian New Year".

In ancient China, people attached great importance to the winter solstice and thought it was a grand festival. There is a saying that the solstice in winter is as big as a year. There is also the custom of celebrating the winter solstice. "Hanshu" said; "The sun is the spirit from winter to the sun, and you are the dragon, so congratulations." People think; After the solstice of winter, the days are getting longer and longer, and the yang is rising. This is the beginning of a solar cycle and an auspicious day, which should be celebrated. "Book of Jin" records that "during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, all peoples and nationalities celebrated together in the winter of the day. . . Its instruments are not as good as Zheng Dan. " Explain the ancient emphasis on the winter solstice.

Now, some places still celebrate the winter solstice as a festival. In northern China, it is customary to slaughter sheep and eat jiaozi and wonton from winter solstice, while in southern China, it is customary to eat glutinous rice balls and noodles from winter solstice on this day. Every region also has the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors on this day.

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