China's 24 solar terms winter solstice custom

Winter Solstice is also known as 'Yiyangsheng'. It is an important solar term in the China lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The Winter Solstice is commonly known as the "Winter Festival","Long Solstice Festival","Asian Year", etc. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period more than 2,500 years ago, China had used Tugui to observe the sun and determine the winter solstice. It was the earliest one of the 24 solar terms formulated, and the time was between December 21 and 23 of the Gregorian calendar every year. The ancients believed that since the winter solstice, the days became longer day by day, the yang qi rose, and the yang qi in heaven and earth began to rise and become stronger, which represented the beginning of the next cycle and was the day of great luck.

The Winter Solstice is the earliest one of the 24 solar terms to be formulated. However, most people do not know that the origin of the Winter Solstice actually comes from a national capital plan. As early as more than 3000 years ago, the Duke of Zhou began to use the Tugui method to measure shadows. He measured the position in the world in Luoyi and determined this as Tuzhong. This was a move of political significance at that time, but it became a festival that influenced future generations for thousands of years. one.

When the Duke of Zhou arrived in Luoyang, he used the tugui method to determine that Luoyang was located as "in the middle of the world", and then began to divination the auspicious place of the country. "Shangshu·Luo Gao" records that the Duke of Zhou "came to Luoyang in his dynasty" and inspected several places around Luoyang, and finally determined that the east of Jianshui, the west of Yanshui, and the east of Yanshui were all "only Luo food"(all are good places to build ancestral temples and state). The historical fact that the Duke of Zhou selected the base site of Luoyi through "Tugui Surveying Scenery" has been recorded in ancient classics and has also been regarded as an established method for establishing a country and establishing a country by later generations.

The purpose of "Tugui Scenic Survey" is to find out "Tuzhong"(the center of China). The essence of this method is that "the tree is eight-foot, on the summer solstice, the scenery is five inches long; on the winter solstice, the scenery is 1.3 feet and five inches long"(that is, an 8-foot high benchmark is erected and observed on the summer solstice, the sun shadow at noon is 1.5 feet, and the sun shadow at noon on the winter solstice is 13.5 feet),"measure the depth of the soil, the sun's shadow is standing on the day, find the earth's center, and test the four seasons." What is measured using this method is the theoretical position of Luoyang and Luoyi in the "soil".

Among the world determined by the Zhou Gong Survey, the Zhou people planned in detail the first national capital after the destruction of the Shang Dynasty."Yi Zhou Shu·Zuoluo" records: "It was the creation of a big city to form the Zhou Dynasty in the soil,... It was connected to the Luo River in the south and Mangshan in the north, thinking that the world was a big one." "Set the sky and protect the sky, abide by the sky". After the completion of the national state (capital city and ancestral temple), the Duke of Zhou made rituals and music in Chengzhou Mingtang and formulated the national etiquette system in detail. According to records, the Zhou Dynasty took November of winter as the first month, and celebrated the New Year with the winter solstice as the beginning of the year. That is to say, the Duke of Zhou chose the day with the longest "sun shadow" in the year measured by the Tugui Method, which was the beginning of the new year.

From Zhou to Qin Dynasty, the winter solstice was used as the beginning of the year and remained unchanged. This was still the case in the Han Dynasty. There is a saying in the Han Dynasty: "The Yang Qi rises during the winter solstice, so you can congratulate..." That is to say, people first celebrated the Winter Solstice to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The ancients believed that since the winter solstice, the yang qi of heaven and earth began to flourish and strengthen, representing the beginning of the next cycle and the day of great luck. Therefore, later customs such as ancestor worship and family dinners during the Spring Festival often appeared during the winter solstice. The winter solstice is also called the "small year". Firstly, it means that the year is approaching and there are not many days left; secondly, it means the importance of the winter solstice. The winter solstice as a festival originated from the Zhou Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has continued to this day. The first month of the Zhou calendar is November of the Xia calendar. Therefore, the first month of the Zhou Dynasty is equal to today's November, so there is no difference between praying to the New Year and celebrating the Winter. It was not until after Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted the summer calendar that the first month and the winter solstice were separated. Therefore, it can also be said that the "Winter Solstice Festival" was celebrated only after the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has continued to this day.

During the winter solstice, the average temperature in the Northwest Plateau is generally below 0℃, and in the southern region is only about 6℃ to 8℃. In addition, the winter solstice begins "counting nine", and the winter solstice becomes the first day of "counting nine". Regarding the "number nine", a folk folk song says,"Don't use your hands on the 19th and 29th, walk on the ice on the 39th and 49th, watch the willows along the river on the 59th and 69th, the 79th River opens, the 89th Yan comes, and the 9th plus the 19th cattle go everywhere." However, in the low-altitude river valley areas in the southwest, even in the coldest month of January in the area, the average temperature is still above 10℃. It can be said that autumn is over and spring is over, and there is no winter all year round.

The ancients in China divided the winter solstice into three phases: "The first phase is the knot of earthworms; the second phase is the removal of elk horns; and the third phase is the movement of water springs." It is said that earthworms are creatures with yin winding and yang stretching. Although yang qi has grown at this time, the yin qi is still very strong, and the earthworms in the soil are still curled up; elk and deer are of the same family, but yin and yang are different. The ancients believed that the horns of elk are oriented towards the younger generation, so they are thought to be yin. However, when the sun is born on the winter solstice, the elk feels the yin qi gradually recedes and dissolves its horns; Because the yang qi is born, the spring water in the mountains can flow and be warm at this time.

Time calculation method Calculation formula for winter solstice date (East Eighth District):(YD+C)-interpretation of L formula: Y= 2 digits after the number of years, D=0.2422, L= number of leap years, C=21.94 in the 20th century, 22.60.

For example: Date of the Winter Solstice in 2088 =[88×0.2422+21.94]-[88/4]=43-22=21, and the Winter Solstice is December 21.

Exception: Calculation results for 1918 and 2021 minus 1 day. It should be noted that the specific intersection time of the winter solstice is exactly the same regardless of whether calculated according to the equal-qi method (used before 1645) or the equal-qi method (used since 1645). This is the only one among the twenty-four solar terms.

In ancient times, China attached great importance to the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice was regarded as a major festival. There was a saying that "the Winter Solstice is as big as a year", and there was a custom to celebrate the Winter Solstice. "Han Shu" says: "Yang Qi rises during the winter solstice, so you can congratulate yourself." People believe that after the winter solstice, the days are getting longer and the yang qi rises. This is the beginning of a solar term cycle and an auspicious day that should be celebrated. It is recorded in the Book of Jin that "the Winter Solstice of the Wei and Jin Dynasties was celebrated by all countries and officials... its ceremony was inferior to that of Zhengdan." Explain the importance attached to the winter solstice in ancient times.

People will also celebrate the Winter Solstice as a festival. In the northern region, there is the custom of slaughtering sheep and eating dumplings and wontons during the winter solstice, while in the southern region, there is the habit of eating winter solstice rice balls and winter solstice long line noodles on this day. Various regions also have the custom of worshipping heaven and ancestors on the winter solstice.

The winter solstice is a good time to maintain health, mainly because "qi begins at the winter solstice." Because starting from winter, life activities begin to turn from decline to prosperity and from static. At this time, scientific health preservation can help ensure strong energy and prevent premature aging, and achieve the purpose of prolonging life. During the winter solstice, the diet should be diverse, with reasonable combinations of grains, fruits, meat, and vegetables, and appropriate selection of high-calcium foods.

There are different customs in

places during the winter solstice. Most places in northern China have the custom of eating dumplings during the winter solstice. After thousands of years of development, the Winter Solstice has formed a unique seasonal food culture. Eating dumplings has become the custom of most China people during the winter solstice. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the popular custom of drinking mutton soup on the winter solstice in Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, which means dispelling the cold.

Eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice in the North Every year on the Lunar Winter Solstice, dumplings are an indispensable holiday meal regardless of rich or poor. The proverb goes: "October 1st, the winter solstice comes, and every household eats dumplings." This custom was left behind by Zhang Zhongjing, the "Holy Doctor of Medicine", who sacrificed medicine during the winter solstice.

Tengzhou Mutton Soup The custom of eating mutton during the winter solstice is said to have begun in the Han Dynasty. Legend has it that Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, ate the mutton cooked by Fan Kuai on the winter solstice. He found the taste particularly delicious and praised it. From then on, the custom of eating mutton during the winter solstice was formed among the people. People eat mutton and various nourishing foods on the winter solstice in order to have a good sign for the coming year. Nowadays, in Tengzhou, Shandong Province, this day is called Fujiu. Gifts such as mutton will be given to elders before the festival. Every family in Fujiu drinks mutton soup, which is a good sign for individuals, elders and families.

Jiangnan Rice In Jiangnan Water Town, there is a custom for the whole family to gather together to eat red bean glutinous rice on the night of the winter solstice. Legend has it that Gong Gong was a talented person who committed many evil deeds. He died on the winter solstice. After his death, he became a plague ghost and continued to harm the people. However, this epidemic ghost was most afraid of red beans, so people cooked and ate red bean rice on the winter solstice to ward off epidemic ghosts and prevent and cure diseases.

Sweet potato soup and fruit In Ningbo's traditional customs, sweet potato soup and fruit are one of the must-eat delicacies during the winter solstice. "Fan" and "Fan" are the same as each other. In the understanding of Ningbo people, eating sweet potatoes on the winter solstice means "overturning" all the bad luck of the past year. Tangguo is similar to dumplings, but is much smaller and has no stuffing inside. Tangguo is also called Yuanzi, which means "reunion" and "consummation". There is also a saying in old Ningbo that "he is a year older after eating soup fruits." Ningbo people are accustomed to adding wine to make sweet potato soup and fruit. In Ningbo dialect, wine-making is also called "pulp board", and "pulp" is the same as "rising" in Ningbo dialect, taking advantage of its "rising wealth" and "rising blessings".

Taiwan glutinous cake still maintains the tradition of using nine-layer cakes to worship ancestors during the winter solstice. Glutinous rice flour is used to make animals such as chickens, ducks, turtles, pigs, cows, sheep, etc. that symbolize auspicious blessings, blessings, longevity, and then steamed in layers with a steamer to worship ancestors, to show that they do not forget the ancestors. On the winter solstice or as early as agreed before and after, people with the same surname and clan gather in the ancestral temple to worship their ancestors one by one, commonly known as "ancestor worship". After the ceremony, a large banquet will be held to entertain the relatives who came to pay homage to the ancestors. Everyone drank heartily and connected with each other's long-term and unfamiliar feelings, calling it the "Food Ancestor." The ancestors of the Winter Solstice have been passed down from generation to generation in Taiwan to show that they have never forgotten their "roots." Radish, green vegetables, tofu, fungus, etc.

Taizhou is the best food for Taizhou people in Zhejiang. The Winter Solstice is an important solar term of the year. On this day, we must make some special dishes and food. First of all, we must pay homage to our ancestors and pray that our ancestors will bless the whole family for peace and prosperity in the coming year. Then the whole family happily gathered together to drink and eat vegetables. Among them, eating "Winter Solstice Round"(beating round, also known as hard beating round and rough round) is an old tradition in Taizhou. beating round means being round, moist and reunion.

Rounding round is the highlight of the winter solstice."Round" means "reunion" and "fulfillment". Compared with the glutinous rice balls eaten on weekdays, Linhai people's winter solstice round is not only rich in content, different in forms, but also meaningful. Riyuan is made of glutinous rice flour. First, knead the glutinous rice flour and warm water into dough, then pick it into vinegar saucer-sized balls and knead it into circles. After cooking, put them in bean yellow powder and roll it and mix. Because this process is called "Lei" in Linhai's dialect, so the winter solstice round is called "Lei Yuan". The bean yellow powder is fried with soybeans, ground into powder and then mixed with brown sugar. It tastes sweet and rich, and is complemented with the delicate and soft glutinous rice balls, which makes people's appetite greatly increase. Pick up a ball covered with soy flour and take a bite while it is hot. It is fragrant, sweet, warm and soft, and a feeling of happiness arises spontaneously. In addition to the classic sweet round balls, there are also many salty winter solstice round balls that families like. The salty round balls are filled with glutinous rice balls and wrapped in fine dices such as pork, dried tofu, winter bamboo shoots, mushrooms, carrot, white radish, etc., which can be steamed or boiled. It is fresh, fragrant and juicy, with a different flavor.

Suzhou wine-making and Suzhou area attaches great importance to the winter solstice as a solar term. There is a saying in Suzhou area: "The winter solstice is like a new year." Traditional Gusu people would drink winter wine on the night of the winter solstice. Winter wine is a kind of rice wine. Adding osmanthus to brew, it has a pleasant aroma. While the people of Suzhou drink winter wine on the night of the winter solstice, they will also serve it with various stewed vegetables such as stewed beef and stewed mutton. In the cold winter, winter win-making not only can drive away the cold, but also expresses the Suzhou people's beautiful wish for life.

Ma Ci Ma Ci, Jiangxi Province, is a specialty of Zhejiang and Jiangxi Province. It is also a traditional snack of Fujian people and a sacrificial offering for Fujian people. It is suitable for steaming, frying, roasting, or frying in sand.

Machi is also a famous snack in southern Fujian, among which Nanan Yingdu is the most famous. Its raw materials are high-quality glutinous rice, lard, sesame seeds, peanut kernels, rock sugar, etc. Machi is sweet and delicious, can endure hunger after eating, has a sweet, smooth taste, soft, tough and slightly ice. The finished product is bright white in color, smooth, tough and transparent.

Hefei eats winter solstice noodles "After eating winter solstice noodles, a line grows in the day." In Hefei, Anhui Province, the custom of eating noodles during the winter solstice is related to solar terms, climate, and farming. After the winter solstice, there are nine cold days, and every nine days are counted as nine. In the severe winter when dripping water turns to ice, eating a bowl of hot egg noodles is considered to have passed the winter solstice.

Tangyuan in Chaoshan, Guangdong, the Han people in Chaoshan area say: "Winter Festival is as big as the year" and "Winter Festival has not returned without ancestors." It means that people who go out must rush home to worship their ancestors on the winter solstice no matter what, otherwise they will have no concept of ancestral home. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait attach great importance to the Winter Solstice and regard it as a reunion festival.

After eating the Winter Festival Round, people in Chaoshan still have to stick two Winter Festival Round grains on conspicuous places such as doors, windows, tables, cabinets, ladders, beds, etc. of their homes, even the bow of fishermen, the horns of farmers 'cattle, and the fruit trees planted by fruit farmers are no exception. Lin Zaifu, a famous scholar in modern Taiwan, described in his book "People in Southern Fujian" the day of Taiwan's Winter Festival (the Winter Solstice is called the Winter Festival in southern Fujian)."Every household should sacrifice the winter solstice round to our ancestors in the early morning... From the door, small door, window door, warehouse door, bed, cabinet, table, well, toilet, cowshed, and pigsty, all have one or two grains round the winter solstice and sacrifice them to protect the safety of the family."

The four-style glutinous rice balls first boil or steam mung beans, red beans, sugar wax gourd, and taro respectively, peel them, add sugar, sesame seeds, cooked lard and other seasonings to make four sweet fillings, and wrap the glutinous rice balls into the four different fillings respectively. Mark the filling heart. Put the four glutinous rice balls into sweetened water and cook them. Each bowl contains one glutinous rice balls with different fillings.

The Winter Solstice of Longan Roasted Egg in Jiaxing, Zhejiang was a major festival in ancient times. Jiaxing emphasized the Winter Solstice. The saying "Winter Solstice is as big as the year" retains the ancient style. According to the Records of Jiaxing Prefecture, Volume 34·Customs),"The winter solstice ceremony begins, and the crown and cover congratulate each other, just like the New Year's Day ceremony." Folk people advocate winter solstice tonic, including red bean glutinous rice and ginseng soup; white fungus, walnut kernel stew wine, longan boiled eggs, etc. To this day, Jiaxing still inherits the custom of eating "roasted eggs with longan" during the winter solstice. The old people say that because the winter solstice is the longest night of the year, if they don't eat it, they will freeze all night and be hungry in the middle of the night.

Hefei Pumpkin Cake The Winter Solstice is over. Hefei people eat pumpkin cakes during the Winter Solstice. The fragrance of pumpkin cakes is filled with the streets and alleys. There is also a proverb called "Eat the Winter Solstice noodles, and the day grows longer." That is to say, after the Winter Solstice, the night will be shortened and the day will grow longer.