Is there Christmas on the solstice of winter?

The winter solstice on 20 16 is 65438+February 2 1, Christmas Eve is 65438+February 24, and Christmas Day is 65438+February 25. On the solstice of winter, Christmas has not been celebrated.

Brief introduction of winter solstice

Winter solstice is a very important solar term in China lunar calendar, and it is also a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The winter solstice is usually called "Winter Festival", "Long Festival" and "Asian New Year". As early as more than 2,500 years ago in the Spring and Autumn Period, China had observed the sun with the earth and determined the winter solstice, which was the earliest of the 24 solar terms. The time is between 65438+February 265438+February 0 and 23, and when the longitude of the sun reaches 270 degrees, it is the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere all year round.

In ancient China, the winter solstice was divided into three stages: "One stage is earthworm knot; Two-phase angular solution; Waiting for the spring to gush out. " Legend has it that earthworms are creatures with yin bending and yang stretching. At this time, although the yang has increased, the yin is still very strong, and the earthworms in the soil are still curled up. Mi and deer belong to the same family, but Yin and Yang are different. The ancients thought that Mi Jiao was facing the afterlife, so it was Yin, while winter was Yang. Mi felt that Yin was receding and the angle was dissolved. Because of the birth of yang, the spring water in the mountain can flow and be warm at this time.

China attached great importance to the winter solstice in ancient times. The solstice in winter is considered a grand festival. There is a saying that the winter solstice is as big as a year, and there is a custom to celebrate it. "Han Shu" said: "The sun shines on the winter solstice, and you are long, so congratulations." People think that after the winter solstice, the days become longer and longer and the sun rises. This is the beginning of a solar cycle and an auspicious day, which should be celebrated. The Book of Jin records: "On the winter solstice of Wei and Jin Dynasties, people from all over the world celebrated ... its appearance was not as good as that of Zheng Dan." Explain the ancient emphasis on the winter solstice.

Now, some places still celebrate the winter solstice as a festival. The northern region has the custom of slaughtering sheep and eating jiaozi and wonton from winter solstice, while the southern region has the custom of eating glutinous rice balls and long noodles from winter solstice on this day. There is also the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors in winter solstice in various regions.

Christmas introduction

Christmas, also known as Christmas, is translated as "Christian Mass", which is a traditional festival in the West. It falls on February 25th every year. Mass is a church service. Christmas is a religious festival, because it is celebrated as the birthday of Jesus, hence the name "Christmas".

Most Catholic churches will hold midnight mass on Christmas Eve on the 24th, that is, in the early morning of February 25th, 65438+, while some Christian churches will hold a good news meeting and then celebrate Christmas on February 25th, 65438+. Another branch of Christianity, the Orthodox Church, celebrates Christmas every year on 65438+1October 7th.

Christmas is also a public holiday in the western world and many other regions, such as Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia and Singapore in Asia. In the era of Constantine (AD 3 13), the Roman church gradually got used to celebrating the birth of the Lord on1February 25th.