The ancients believed that the winter solstice is an important solar term for the transformation of yin and yang, representing the beginning of the next cycle. It is an auspicious day, and the "counting to nine" begins. Dumplings, glutinous rice balls and other foods are "seasonal meals" at this time, as the New Year is approaching.
Data map: Wufu Dumpling Banquet welcomes the winter solstice. Photo by Han Zhangyun
When the winter solstice arrives, "counting nine" begins
The winter solstice is one of the twenty-four solar terms, opposite to the summer solstice, and it occurs around December 22 of the Gregorian calendar every year. At this time, the sun reaches 270° of ecliptic longitude.
On the winter solstice, the sun reaches the southernmost point of the year, almost directly hitting the Tropic of Capricorn. On this day, the northern hemisphere receives the least sunlight and the day is the shortest, and the days get shorter as you go further north.
Similarly, it is also because the sun is at its lowest height and the sunshine time is the shortest on the winter solstice. The heat absorbed by the ground is less than the heat lost, and the weather is generally colder. The winter solstice begins with "counting nine", and every nine days is a "nine". By the time of "Jiujiu", the weather gets warmer and spring has arrived in most parts of the country. It is also called "Jiujiu Sunny Day".
According to the traditional theory of yin and yang and the five elements, the winter solstice is an important solar term for the "transformation of yin and yang", so there is also a saying that "winter solstice and one yang are born". At the same time, the setting of leap months is also based on the winter solstice.
Why is it called "Winter Festival"?
Historically, the winter solstice has been a solar term that has attracted people's attention, also known as the "Winter Festival" and "Winter Festival".
Data map: On December 22, the Winter Solstice Ceremony of Mencius in the Wuxu Year of the Lunar Calendar was held in Zoucheng, Shandong Province, Mencius’ hometown. Photo by China News Service reporter Sha Jianlong
According to records, the first month of the Zhou calendar is the eleventh month of the lunar calendar, which means that the first month of the Zhou Dynasty is equivalent to our current November. At that time, the Zhou Dynasty celebrated the New Year with the winter solstice as the beginning of the year, so there was no difference between paying New Year greetings and greeting the winter.
During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted the lunar calendar and separated the first month and the winter solstice. "Hanshu" records: "The Yang Qi rises during the winter solstice, and the king and Taoist minister congratulate you..." It means that people originally celebrated the winter solstice to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
The ancients believed that from the winter solstice, the yang energy of heaven and earth begins to rise and strengthen, which represents the beginning of the next cycle and is an auspicious day. Therefore, later customs such as ancestor worship and family dinners during the Spring Festival often appeared at this time.
During the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the winter solstice was also called "Yasui". On this day, people pay homage to their parents and elders. During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the winter solstice and the beginning of the year were equally important. Meng Yuanlao of the Southern Song Dynasty described the winter solstice in this way in his "Tokyo Menghua Lu": "...even the poorest people accumulate money in a year. On this day, they wear new clothes, prepare food and drink, and enjoy sacrifices to their ancestors. Officials let go and celebrated their exchanges. Just like the New Year Festival."
In the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors would hold a ceremony to worship the sky, called "Winter Solstice Jiaotian". There was a ceremony in the palace for hundreds of officials to present congratulations to the emperor, and they also congratulated each other. People will also celebrate this festival with joy.
Eating dumplings, drinking mutton soup... What are the customs of the Winter Solstice?
As a long-lasting festival, the Winter Solstice naturally has many interesting customs.
Data map: December 21st is the traditional Chinese solar term-Winter Solstice. On the same day, the reporter visited a number of mutton restaurants in Chongqing and saw that the business in the stores was booming. Some stores even expanded the venue from indoors to outdoors and set up temporary business points, making the scene like a "Baba Banquet". Photo by Zhou Yi
As the saying goes, "When the winter solstice comes, eat dumplings." In northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice, while in the south, it is mostly rice dumplings. Of course, there are exceptions. For example, in Tengzhou, Shandong and other places, it is popular to drink mutton soup on the winter solstice, which means to drive away the cold.
In addition, in the Jiangnan water towns, it is important for the whole family to gather together on the night of the winter solstice and eat red beans and glutinous rice. According to legend, there was a son of the Gong clan who committed many evil deeds and died on the winter solstice. After his death, he turned into a plague ghost and harmed the people. But plague ghosts are particularly afraid of red beans, so people cook and eat red bean rice during the winter solstice in the hope of preventing disasters and getting rid of diseases.
Interestingly, Suzhou also has the custom of drinking "winter wine". Dongjiujiu is a kind of rice wine brewed with sweet-scented osmanthus. On the night of the winter solstice, ordinary people drink delicious winter wine and taste braised beef and other braised dishes. Their homes are filled with laughter and laughter.
After the "Nine Counting" began, it became popular among the people to fill in the nine-nine pictures to relieve the cold for entertainment. The painting to relieve the cold is usually a double-hook red calligraphy. From the winter solstice onwards, one stroke is filled in every day according to the order of strokes. When spring returns after the nine-nine, the painting to relieve the cold is completed.
Winter is the time of winter hiding, when the north wind blows and the earth freezes. Folklore expert Xiao Fang mentioned in "Twenty-Four Solar Terms and Folk Customs" that the winter solstice is an important seasonal node, and people hold a series of seasonal rituals around the winter solstice.
“The Winter Solstice is a time of transition between the old and the new. In the ancient people’s minds, it naturally has extraordinary cultural significance. Many of the beliefs and rituals in the Winter Solstice customs come from people’s understanding of this season. Feelings." Xiao Fang explained. (End)