Why the winter solstice is as big as the year

"Winter Solstice" is one of the 24 solar terms and an important festival in China throughout the ages. The only festivals that use the solar term as a holiday are the Qingming Festival and the Winter Solstice Festival. In history, Winter Solstice and New Year's Day are almost equal, so there has always been a "winter solstice is as big as the year". The following three aspects of the detailed answer to the question of why the winter solstice is as big as the year.

First, from the historical development of the evolution of its important position

? From the data records, we can see that the traditional festival "winter solstice festival" of the historical prosperity.

? "Winter Solstice Festival" appeared very early, in the Zhou Dynasty to "winter solstice" for the "small year". Because in the Zhou Dynasty, the eleventh month of the lunar calendar was the first month, the winter solstice, which was in this month, became the "small year". Since it was treated as a "year" to celebrate the festival, we can see that the festival at that time.

? In the Han Dynasty, the winter solstice was called the "Winter Festival", and official ceremonies were held to celebrate the festival. This was probably the equivalent of the modern "reunion", which was then called the "winter festival".

? During the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, the winter solstice was known as the YaYu, which means the Small Year. On this day, people would pay tribute to their parents and elders. This is the "winter solstice" as a "year" to pass. Tang Dynasty still follow the old custom.

? In the Song Dynasty, the winter solstice is developed into a festival of ancestor worship. This was recorded in the book Tokyo Meng Hua Lu (东京梦华錄). At that time, the capital (that is, Kaifeng) "the most important winter solstice festival", whenever the winter solstice festival comes, people have to change into new clothes, and buy holiday food supplies, but also sacrifices to the ancestors, but also to each other to celebrate, the scene is really like in the New Year, so ancient people call " The first time I saw this, it was a very good time for me. Later, the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties are still used down.

? To this day, it still retains the title of "small year", and also retains the "winter solstice is as big as the year".

Second, from the duration of its importance

? From ancient times to the present, winter solstice festival is to be two days , the day before called "winter night", to the winter solstice day is called "winter solstice day", there are some places called "winter".

The first day is called "Winter Night".

? Why is it possible to have a two-day festival on the winter solstice? At this time belongs to the "agricultural" season, the year's agricultural work has basically ended, the grain harvest to the warehouse, the next year's cultivation has not yet started, in the whole year's "agricultural gap". This provides the basis for "leisure for all" in terms of time. There are two other important driving forces: first, the need to celebrate the harvest when it is over; and second, the need to relax after a year of hard work. The combination of these points was a "one-two punch" that led to the two-day festival, the Winter Solstice. Among all the festivals in the year, only the "year" matches, so it is said that "the winter solstice is as big as the year".

Three, from the grand folklore to see its importance

? Since the winter solstice is a "small year", then the custom is also with the "New Year" as well. In ancient times, whenever the winter solstice festival comes, China's northern region to slaughter sheep, eat dumplings, eat wontons, the southern region in the day to eat the winter solstice rice balls, winter solstice long thread noodles. Folk also want to worship their ancestors on this day.

? We can look at the records of the ancients to see the pomp and circumstance of the time. In the Qing Dynasty, Gu Lu, a native of Suzhou, wrote "Qing Jia Lu", which recorded that the winter solstice was as big as the New Year. In order to ensure that the original appearance, so that you have a comprehensive understanding, I will be the main content of the excerpts are as follows:

? The people of the county attach the greatest importance to the winter solstice festival. The first day, friends and relatives with food to feed each other, carrying baskets and boxes, filling the road, commonly known as the "winter solstice plate". One night before the festival, commonly known as "winter solstice night". On this night, people more quickly swallow drink, called "festival wine". Women married and return to Ning in the room, to the son-in-law must return home. No matter how big or small the family is, it will be food to enjoy the first, and there are those who hang the remains of their ancestors. All the rituals, plus the regular festival, so there is a "winter solstice is as big as the year" of the proverb.

? The general meaning of this passage is as follows:

The people in the county attach the greatest importance to the winter solstice festival, before the arrival of the festival, relatives and friends give each other food, those who give gifts, carrying baskets, picking the box, crowded with the road. This custom is called "winter solstice plate". The night before the winter solstice festival, commonly known as the "winter solstice night". On the night of the winter solstice, families take turns inviting people to eat and drink, which is called "festival wine". If a married woman is still in her mother's house, she must go to her husband's house to celebrate the festival. Both large and small families must buy food to honor their ancestors, and some of them also hang statues of their ancestors. In all the rituals, this festival is more solemn than ordinary festivals, so there is a proverb that "the winter solstice is as big as a year".

? From these accounts, we fully feel the ancient people for the winter solstice festival for the importance of the importance of the festival and esteem, indeed, is to show the winter solstice festival as grand and lively as the New Year.

The winter solstice is the most important festival in the world.