The origin and custom of winter solstice

1, the origin of winter solstice: winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms and one of the most important solar terms. Winter solstice is a solar term divided by astronomy, which was called "short day" and "short day" in ancient times. From winter to the sun, the sun is located at 270 degrees of the Yellow Meridian, and the sun shines almost directly to the Tropic of Capricorn, which has the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. Accordingly, the daytime from winter solstice in the southern hemisphere is the longest in the whole year. The winter solstice, also known as the Winter Festival, according to the traditional calendar of China, takes five days as the waiting period, three days as a section or breath, and a year is divided into twelve sections and twelve qi, which are collectively called twenty-four solar terms. This is the solar term used to study the date selection, which is based on the solar term of the lunar calendar, and the so-called lunar calendar is a combination of the solar calendar and the lunar calendar, which refers to the twenty-four solar terms (the solar cycle is divided into twelve stages, and the solar term refers to the solar term). ), the lunar calendar is a pure month (according to the cycle of the moon). ), the date is1February 22nd or 23rd in the national calendar.

2, winter solstice customs activities:

(1) ancestor worship. Among the people, there is a custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors from the winter solstice. The ancestor worship ceremony from winter solstice is the same as New Year's Day. While offering sacrifices to ancestors, people should also pay homage to their parents and elders. In ancient times, there was a custom of offering shoes and socks to the elderly, which is still very popular in modern times. There is a saying in Fujian and Taiwan that "the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on the solstice in winter, well (meaning" no ") there will be no ancestors". All people who go out to make a living must go back to their hometown for the New Year on the solstice of winter, which shows that they will have a home at the end of the year.

(2) Eat jiaozi. 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." . Every year, during the winter solstice of the Lunar New Year, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday feast for both the rich and the poor. As the saying goes: "On October 1st, when the solstice of winter comes, every family eats jiaozi." This custom was left in memory of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical sage", who gave up medicine from the winter solstice.

(3) Jiujiu dispels cold. After entering the ninth year, some literati engaged in so-called activities to cool down and keep out the cold. They chose a "September" day to meet nine people and have a drink ("wine" and "nine" are homophonic). Nine dishes and nine bowls are used at the dining table, and those who have finished the table use "nine flowers" seats to get the meaning of "September" and to cool off the heat and cold. 99 cold songs: 19, 29 don't shoot; Walking on the ice on March 9 and April 9; From May 9th to June 9th, look at the willows by the river; 79 rivers open and swallows come 89 miles; 99 plus 19, plowing cattle everywhere.