Brief introduction of Chaoshan winter festival

Winter solstice, the influx of people called the winter festival. The influx of people regards the solstice of winter as a small year, so the tide proverb says, "After eating the winter festival, you are one year older." "Beginners" volume four quotes "Jade Candle Collection" cloud: "Build a child in November, one week in the first month. The solstice of winter ... everything begins with yin and yang, the sun and the moon ... so there is a long congratulations. " Because this day is the New Year's Day of the week, the ancients often carried out important activities on this day. For example, in ancient times, people visited the roof at the vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, summer solstice and winter solstice to observe the sky, and carved the sky they saw on a simple plan to attach the good and bad luck of the year to people. During the Han and Wei dynasties, the summer calendar was used, but the winter solstice was called sub-year. On this day, important sacrifices or other activities will be held. "The Book of Songs Beginners" quoted: Wei and Jin Dynasties "Winter Solstice Day, worship guests, like Yuan's weapon." Volume 12 of "Quotations of Two Cheng" says: "In the Winter Festival, invite maids to sit at the table and congratulate the Emperor Tai Shang and the Empress." It can be seen that the ancients regarded the solstice of winter as a small year.

Winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms. According to the "Twenty-four Solar Terms",1/month15th, the finally hidden gas came to an end. "Tong Wei Xiao Zhu Shen" contains: "The 15th day after the heavy snow is the winter solstice, which is the 15th day of the first month. Yin and Yang began, and the sky went south and grew up. " According to Ci Hai: "Astronomically speaking, the solstice of winter is the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere." The solstice in winter is not only one of the 24 solar terms, but also an important festival for the Han people in Chaoshan area, commonly known as "off-year".

The customs of Chaoshan cities and counties from winter solstice are basically the same, such as ancestor worship, eating incense pills and sweeping graves.