Origin and custom of winter solstice: when is the date of winter solstice this year in 2022?

The winter solstice is the 22nd of the 24 solar terms, and it is also a solar term in winter, so the climate at this time becomes particularly cold. The time of winter solstice is different every year, and the gap between before and after will not be great.

When is the solstice in the winter of 2022?

—— The winter solstice in 2022 is 65438+February 22, 2022, and Thursday (small) of the 29th lunar winter month is 5:48:0 1.

The origin of winter solstice

In the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,500 years ago, China had observed the sun with earth gauges and determined the winter solstice, which was the earliest of the 24 solar terms and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. During the Yin and Zhou Dynasties, it was stipulated that the day before the winter solstice was the end of the year, and the winter solstice was equivalent to the Spring Festival. Later, the summer calendar was implemented. However, the winter solstice has always ranked first among the 24 solar terms, and it is called "dividing the year". People first celebrate the winter solstice festival to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The ancients believed that since the winter solstice, the sun be the spirit of heaven and earth began to flourish, representing the beginning of the next cycle, which was a lucky day. Therefore, later, during the Spring Festival, customs such as ancestor worship and family dinners often appeared on the winter solstice. As a festival, the winter solstice originated in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has continued to this day.

What are the customs of winter solstice?

Eat dumplings

In most parts of northern China, it is a holiday custom to eat jiaozi on the solstice in winter. Eating jiaozi, also known as "frozen ears", originated from a legend in the Han Dynasty. When Zhang Zhongjing was an official in Changsha, he retired to his hometown, which coincided with the snowy winter and the biting wind, and many people's ears were frozen.

Eat wonton

Eating wonton in winter was first popular in the Southern Song Dynasty. According to legend, people in Zhao Gou, Song Gaozong love to eat the wonton cooked by the chef, because once the wonton is not cooked well, someone will send the chef to Dali Temple for punishment, but because only the chef can cook wonton, Zhao Gou pardoned him.

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.