Why is the winter solstice as big as a year?

The solstice in winter is as big as a year, because it is the beginning of the new year and the basis for ancient people to calculate calendars.

The "year" often mentioned in China is actually the product of the calendar. The solar term from the winter solstice is the first of the 24 solar terms, the beginning of the new year, and the basis for the ancients to calculate the calendar. With a calendar, you can calculate the specific length of the year, month and day, so there is a saying that the winter solstice is as big as a year.

Another reason is that during the solar term from the winter solstice, the handle of the bucket points to the child. In ancient times, heavenly stems and earthly branches was used to record time, and the twelve earthly branches were headed by Zifang, which was the beginning of time. Therefore, the ancients regarded the solstice in winter as an auspicious day. Among the four seasons and eight festivals, the solstice in winter is as important as New Year's Day in spring. In this sense, the solstice in winter is also a "big New Year".

Holiday custom of winter solstice

1, ancestor worship

Sacrificing ancestors is a common custom in many festivals in China, and winter solstice is one of them. In "China Folk Customs", there is a winter solstice festival, also called Ghost Festival.

2, Jiujiu Quhan

When the solstice of winter arrives, it will enter cold weather. From the solstice of winter, every nine days is divided into a "nine" * * * divided into nine "nine". When the number reaches 8 1, it is "nine peach blossoms". Since the Qing Dynasty, old Beijing has had the dietary customs of "Jiujiu Hotpot" and "Jiujiu Wine and Meat" to dispel the cold.

Step 3 eat mutton

According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, ate mutton cooked in Fan Kuai on the solstice of winter, which was particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, people have formed the custom of eating mutton from the winter solstice in order to have a good omen for the coming year.

Baidu encyclopedia-winter solstice