The custom of winter solstice (text)

Winter solstice is a major solar term among the 24 solar terms, and it is also a traditional festival that people attach importance to. The solstice in winter means the beginning of nine days. From this day on, the north officially entered a long and cold winter. However, the custom of winter solstice varies from place to place. Let's introduce the winter customs in the north and south of Solstice.

In the north, whether rich or poor, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday feast in the winter solstice of the lunar calendar every year. There is a saying: "On October 1st, the solstice of winter comes, and every household eats jiaozi." A hot night in jiaozi brought not only food and clothing in winter, but also warm wishes and sustenance to the family. This custom was left in memory of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", who gave up medicine from the winter solstice. When you eat jiaozi on the solstice in winter, you will never forget the kindness of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", in "Quhan Joule Decoction". Up to now, there is still a folk song in Nanyang, which is called "jiaozi Bowl, and nobody cares about frozen ears." .

After entering the ninth year, some literati ran around and engaged in activities to cool off the heat. They chose a "ninth day" day, invited nine people to drink ("wine" and "nine" homophonic), and used nine dishes and nine bowls on the table. After the table, people use the "nine flowers" seat to take the meaning of "nine nine" to reduce the cold. People ate "Joule" and drank "Quhan Decoction", and they were all hot, their ears were hot, and their frostbitten ears were cured. Later generations learned the appearance of Joule and packaged it into food, also called "jiaozi" or "flat food". In memory of Zhang Zhongjing, later generations had the custom of eating Joule from the winter solstice, and Joule gradually evolved into today's jiaozi.