The custom of winter solstice.

The winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms, also called the winter festival. Generally speaking, on the solstice of winter, the weather will start to get cold. In order to resist the cold weather, many people will eat jiaozi. Besides eating jiaozi, do you know any other customs in winter?

1, eat jiaozi

As the saying goes, "On October 1st, the solstice of winter comes, and every household eats jiaozi." Every year, during the winter solstice of the Lunar New Year, jiaozi is an indispensable holiday feast for both the rich and the poor. The moral of eating jiaozi on the solstice in winter is to cool down, in memory of Zhang Zhongjing, a "medical saint", who gave up medicine on the solstice in winter. Jiaozi is eaten in northern China on this day, because jiaozi means "expelling cold". Up to now, there is a folk saying that "the jiaozi bowl is not good in winter, and nobody cares about the frozen ears".

Step 2 eat glutinous rice balls

An ancient poem said, "Every family beats rice to make glutinous rice balls, knowing that it is the winter solstice of the Ming Dynasty." Eating glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter is a traditional custom in China, especially in the south of the Yangtze River. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". Tangyuan is also called jiaozi, and eating jiaozi on the winter solstice is also called "jiaozi on the winter solstice"; Tangyuan can be used for ancestor worship or as a gift to relatives and friends. In the past, Shanghainese were most particular about eating glutinous rice balls. They tasted the newly brewed sweet white wine, flower cakes and glutinous rice balls at the family banquet, and then sacrificed their ancestors with meat pieces.

3. ancestor worship

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.

When the winter solstice festival comes, the common folk custom in Foshan, Guangdong Province is "ancestor worship", which is called "winter sacrifice". On this day, every household will kill chickens and prepare barbecues, cakes, oranges, apples and so on. With the good wishes of "vigorous, red skin, high growth, full of gold and silver, safe and sound". In addition to ancestor worship, people also have the custom of eating winter solstice meals. After worshipping ancestors, the family will have a winter solstice meal.

4. Kill this chicken

"celebrate the new year in winter" and "fat and thin in winter" are big proverbs that Guangzhou people have heard since childhood. People in Guangzhou usually kill chickens and ducks on the solstice in winter and have a big meal with their families. Guangzhou people who love chickens are afraid that a plate of chicken is indispensable on the reunion dinner table. Personally, I think roast crispy chicken is the best dish. The skin is crisp enough, the chicken is tender enough and the sauce is delicious. In addition, many Cantonese people choose to spend their holidays in restaurants and reunite with their families, so restaurants of all sizes are brightly lit.

Step 5 eat mutton

It is said that the custom of eating mutton on the winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, ate mutton cooked in Fan Kuai on the solstice of winter, which was particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, the custom of eating mutton from winter solstice has been formed among the people. On the solstice of winter, people eat mutton and various nourishing foods one after another in order to have a good omen for the coming year. Now in Tengzhou, Shandong Province, this day is called Fujiu. Before the festival, the elders will be given gifts such as mutton, and everyone will drink mutton soup, which is a good sign for individuals, elders and families.

These are the customs I know about the winter solstice. Do you think it's weird? Please leave a message in the comments section.