The custom of eating jiaozi from winter solstice.

The custom of eating jiaozi on the winter solstice: On the winter solstice, there are different customs in the north and south of China. Most areas in the north will eat jiaozi, while the south will eat jiaozi. There is also a proverb: When the solstice winter comes, eat jiaozi.

The winter solstice is a very important solar term in China. It is one of the traditional festivals of the Han nationality. It originated in the Han Dynasty and flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties. The solstice in winter is commonly known as "Winter Festival", "Dragon Festival" and "Elegant 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.

This day is the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere all year round. On the solstice of winter, there are different customs in the north and south of China. Jiaozi is eaten in most areas in the north, and glutinous rice balls are eaten in the south. There is also a proverb: Eat jiaozi on the solstice in winter, as well as poems and films about this solar term.

Gourmet legend

The solstice of winter is a severe winter season. People eat to keep warm and cure diseases. After thousands of years of development, they gradually formed a unique seasonal food tradition, such as wonton, jiaozi, glutinous rice balls, red bean porridge, dog meat and mutton. These are seasonal foods from the winter solstice. Along with the diet custom from winter solstice to Sunday, there are many Han folk tales.

People in Henan have the custom of eating jiaozi from the winter solstice, which is called "pinching frozen ears". It is also said that Zhang Zhongjing, a doctor in Nanyang, was originally a medical officer. It was a snowy winter when he retired. He saw that the villagers in Nanyang were hungry and cold, and many people's ears were frozen.

So he asked his disciples to set up a clinic in Nanyang Guandong. They cooked mutton, peppers and some herbs for removing cold in a pot, and took them out and chopped them up. Then they put them down and cooked them in a pot, and made soup for the villagers to eat. After the villagers took it, their frozen ears were cured. Later, on the winter solstice, people imitated this "frozen ear" to eat, saying that it was the winter solstice.