What are the reasons why Hakka and Chaoshan people eat glutinous rice balls in winter solstice?

The origin of eating glutinous rice balls from winter solstice is as follows:

Eating glutinous rice balls was established in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

On the solstice of winter, it is necessary to "make dumplings" or "make dumplings". These are also officially recorded in historical materials. The history says that "on the winter solstice, powdered glutinous rice is a pill, which is called' glutinous rice balls'". After jiaozi is wrapped up, it is necessary to offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors, and then the whole family will eat around. This is called "adding years". Therefore, it is very old to eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter.

Eating dumplings is a traditional custom from winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. "Tangyuan" is an essential food from winter solstice, and it is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is also called "the winter solstice group". There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older".

The solstice in winter has both natural and humanistic connotations. It is not only a natural solar term, but also a traditional festival to worship ancestors. Winter solstice is one of the eight festivals in a year. Since ancient times, the Chinese nation has a tradition of offering sacrifices to ancestors from the winter solstice to the sun to show filial piety and not forgetting the roots. Due to different local customs and habits, the forms of ancestor worship are also different. In some places, while offering sacrifices to ancestors, they also offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth. The offerings mainly include three sacrifices, three teas and five wines. The solstice in winter is considered as a big holiday in winter.