The solar term closest to Christmas

The "winter solstice" on February 22, 65438 is the closest solar term to Christmas among the 24 solar terms.

The time from February 22, 65438 to the day around is the shortest day and the longest night in a year. After about 3 days, the days began to lengthen gradually, as if the sun began to regain its vitality. China's ancient explanation of winter solstice "Yin arrives, Yang begins to grow, the sun is south, the day is short, and the shadow is long" is also about this natural phenomenon.

custom

The winter solstice, with both natural and humanistic connotations, is not only an important solar term among the 24 solar terms, but also a traditional folk festival in China, which is known as "the winter solstice is as big as a year".

The solstice in winter is the starting point for the return of the sun. Since the winter solstice, the sun has risen to a high place, and the days are getting longer and longer. The solstice in winter marks the rebirth of the sun and the movement of the sun back and forth into a new cycle. Therefore, the ancients regarded the solstice in winter as a "good day". Among the eight festivals in a year, the solstice in winter is as important as New Year's Day in spring. In southern China, there are customs of offering sacrifices to ancestors and enjoying the winter solstice. In northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi from winter to Sunday every year.