Is the winter solstice fixed every year?

The time of winter solstice is not fixed.

The winter solstice is the most important of the 24 solar terms. According to the Gregorian calendar, the winter solstice is on February 22-23 every year, 12. On this day, the sun moves to the longitude of 270 degrees, with the southernmost latitude. The sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, with the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere (in the Arctic Circle, it is night all the time).

On the day of winter solstice, the height of the sun at noon in the northern hemisphere is also the lowest. For example, in Beijing, the height of the sun is only 26 42', because the shadow at noon is the longest, so it is also called "growing to the sun". China attached great importance to the winter solstice in ancient times, and stipulated that the same month as the winter solstice was the "sub-month", which was the first branch of the twelve solar terms. Therefore, the winter solstice is still a traditional festival, commonly known as "Winter Festival" and "Dragon Solstice Festival".

Extended data

The custom of winter solstice:

Many places in southern China will celebrate the winter solstice. The southern coastal areas, such as western Guangdong, Chaoshan and parts of Zhejiang, continue the traditional custom of ancestor worship. Every household is dedicated to ancestor statues, memorial tablets, etc. Go to the hall at home, place an altar, set up incense burners, offerings, etc. In some places, while offering sacrifices to ancestors, they also offer sacrifices to gods, land gods and deities, so as to make the next year's weather favorable and the family prosperous.

In many parts of northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every winter solstice. According to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, a medical sage, saw a frozen person when he retired in his later years, so he wrapped mutton, some cold-dispelling herbs and dough into the shape of ears, made a medicine called "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction" and gave it to the people. Later, on the solstice of winter, people imitated eating and formed a custom.

People's Network-Winter solstice-Night is long and day is short, and the sun is born (solar terms and phenology)