What are the customs of winter solstice?

As the saying goes, "the winter solstice is as big as a year", and Hanshu says, "The sun shines on the winter solstice, your majesty, congratulations." The world thinks that the winter solstice is an auspicious day blessed by God, so it is more lively to worship and entertain each other than New Year's Eve. So what customs do you know from winter solstice?

Eating glutinous rice balls on the solstice in winter is a traditional custom in China, especially in the south. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls is one year older". Eating jiaozi on the solstice in Guangdong is also called jiaozi, and eating jiaozi on the solstice in Guangdong is also called "jiaozi on the solstice in winter". According to the records of Qing Dynasty, Jiangnan people used glutinous rice flour to make noodles with essence, meat, apples, bean paste, shredded radish and so on. At present, when making glutinous rice balls in many areas of Guangdong, some yellow sugar, that is, sweet glutinous rice balls, are generally added, while in Wuyi area of Jiangmen, "salty glutinous rice balls" are made by kneading glutinous rice flour into glutinous rice balls, then moving them into strips slightly larger than fingers, then cutting them into small balls with scissors or knives, and then cooking them with Xinhui sweet radish.

2. Ancestor Worship In our China people's concept, the significance of the ancestors' souls to the family can be compared with the power of the gods of heaven and earth to the country, and we can't be careless or neglect them. 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.

3, drinking winter wine Suzhou has a saying since ancient times, "If you don't drink winter wine on the winter solstice, it will be frozen overnight." On the solstice of winter, mellow and delicious winter wine will inevitably appear on the table of every household in Suzhou. Suzhou people and the winter solstice always have a bowl of winter wine that they can't give up. Dongniang is a kind of low-alcohol yellow rice wine, with osmanthus and some Chinese herbal medicines. Jiangnan is a rice producing area, where rice wine is popular among the people, while Suzhou is rich in osmanthus. Therefore, on the solstice of winter, people are popular to drink osmanthus winter wine.

It is said that the custom of eating mutton on the solstice in winter began in 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.

5. Eating Wonton Many places in southern China have the custom of eating Wonton on the solstice in winter. In the Southern Song Dynasty, Lin 'an (now Hangzhou) also had the custom of eating wonton in winter solstice. The Song people explained in detail that Lin 'an people eat wonton to worship their ancestors on the solstice in winter. It was not until the Southern Song Dynasty that the custom of eating wonton on the solstice became popular in China. Today, wonton has become a famous snack with many kinds, different productions and delicious taste all over the country, which is deeply loved by people. There are many unique wonton that are deeply loved by diners all over the world, including the famous wonton in Chengdu Long Wonton Museum, which has a wide variety, thin skin and tender stuffing, and delicious soup.

These are the customs of winter solstice that I know. What else do you know, my friend? Please leave a message in the comments section.