Traditional customs of winter solstice

The winter solstice is a very important solar term in the China lunar calendar, and it is also an unusual traditional festival. Up to now, there are still many places that have the custom of winter solstice. The winter solstice festival has rich and colorful holiday customs.

? The traditional custom of winter solstice?

First, ancestor worship?

Sacrificing ancestors is a common custom in many festivals in China, and winter solstice is one of them. In the records of national customs in China, there is a saying of "Winter Solstice Festival", also known as "Ghost Festival". In the eyes of China people, the significance of the ancestors' souls to the family can be compared with the strength of the God of heaven and earth to the country, and we should not be careless or neglect it. Sacrifice, whether in the temple at home or in the cemetery, is to offer delicious and delicious things to our ancestors as much as possible.

Second, eat jiaozi?

In most parts of northern China, it is a holiday custom to eat jiaozi on the solstice in winter. Eating jiaozi, also known as "frozen ears", originated from a legend in the Han Dynasty. When Zhang Zhongjing was an official in Changsha, he retired to his hometown, which coincided with the snowy winter and the biting wind, and many people's ears were frozen. He was very sad, so he asked his disciples to set up a shed in Guandong, Nanyang, and cook it in a pot with mutton, peppers and some herbs to drive away the cold. Then he picked it up and chopped it up, made it into ears with flour bags, and then cooked it in a pot and distributed it to the people. After everyone eats it, their ears will be fine. Later, on the winter solstice, people will imitate it and eat it as a "frozen ear". Later, they called it "jiaozi".

Third, eat wonton?

Eating wonton in winter was first popular in the Southern Song Dynasty. According to legend, people in Zhao Gou, Song Gaozong love to eat the wonton cooked by the chef, because once the wonton is not cooked well, someone will send the chef to Dali Temple for punishment, but because only the chef can cook wonton, Zhao Gou pardoned him. Later, the method of making wonton spread to the people, and there were more and more varieties and patterns. During the winter solstice festival, every household eats wonton, which leads to the saying "winter solstice wonton and summer solstice noodles".

Fourth, 1999 Eliminate colds?

When the solstice of winter arrives, it will enter cold weather. From the solstice of winter, every nine days is divided into a "nine" * * * divided into nine "nine". When the number reaches 8 1, it is "nine peach blossoms".

Since the Qing Dynasty, old Beijing has had the dietary customs of "Jiujiu Hot Pot" and "Jiujiu Wine and Meat" to keep out the cold. In the middle of the Ninth Five-Year Plan, there are ten hot pots with ten different contents, but they are all hot pots, usually instant-boiled mutton, which are very popular in the Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China.

? Five, eat jiaozi?

Eating glutinous rice balls was established in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. On the solstice of winter, it is necessary to "make dumplings" or "make dumplings". These are also officially recorded in historical materials. The history says that "on the winter solstice, powdered glutinous rice is a pill, which is called' glutinous rice balls'". After jiaozi is wrapped up, it is necessary to offer sacrifices to the gods and ancestors, and then the whole family will eat around. This is called "adding years". Therefore, it is very old to eat glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter.

Eating dumplings is a traditional custom from winter solstice, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. "Tangyuan" is an essential food from winter solstice, and it is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating glutinous rice balls on the winter solstice is also called "the winter solstice group". There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older".

The winter solstice group can be used to worship ancestors or give gifts to relatives and friends. In the past, Shanghainese were most particular about eating jiaozi. An ancient poem said, "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." . "Circle" means "reunion" and "perfection". Eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter symbolizes family harmony and good luck.

? Sixth, the teacher?

On the solstice of winter, there is also an important custom activity in many areas, that is, learning from teachers. In traditional rural society, people usually have no time to visit teachers. On the solstice of winter, it happens to be the slack season, so they use this festival to visit their teachers, give them some gifts, or entertain them to express their wishes. Therefore, the solstice in winter is also a folk festival that reflects the tradition of respecting teachers and valuing education in China.

Traditionally, it is the most popular activity for the whole family to eat jiaozi around the stove on the solstice in winter. Sending blessings to relatives and friends can best reflect the core spirit of traditional culture, that is, family members care for each other and take care of each other. This day is also the starting point of insisting on starting from small things, starting from ourselves and constantly pursuing happiness. On this special winter solstice festival, let's wish the whole family happiness and well-being, cherish each other and walk hand in hand in the future!