24 solar terms - Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice, also known as the South Solstice, Winter Festival, and Asian New Year, combines two major connotations of nature and culture. It is not only an important solar term among the 24 solar terms, but also a traditional ancestor worship festival in Chinese folk culture.
The Winter Solstice is one of the four seasons and eight seasons, and is considered a major holiday in winter. In ancient times, there was a saying in folk culture that "the Winter Solstice is as big as the year".
Winter Solstice Three Seasons
Once the earthworms knot.
On the day of the winter solstice, earthworms knot up, feeling the curling of yin energy and the stretching of yang energy. When the six yin are extremely cold, they entangle like knots.
The second waiting deer horn is released.
On the fifth day after the winter solstice, the elk antlers are released. Deers belong to the yang and mountain beasts, and they sense yin energy and release their antlers during the summer solstice. Elk belongs to Yin, Ze beast, and senses Yang energy to release horns on the winter solstice.
Three seasons of water spring movement.
In five more days, the water spring will move. The water is born from the sun of the One Heaven, and now the sun is born. Therefore, the water spring has already flowed secretly.
The winter solstice is an important solar term in traditional Chinese medicine health preservation. In ancient China, the winter solstice was designated as the beginning of the year, and in the twelve hour period of a day, the zi month was also the time when the human body's yang was first born.
In ancient times, health cultivation placed great emphasis on the period of the birth of Yang energy, because only when the body has sufficient Yang energy can the goal of eliminating diseases and prolonging life be achieved.
Seasonal health preservation
The winter solstice coincides with the end of the year and the beginning of the year, and soon marks New Year's Day. During this solar term, there are many gatherings, and it is important not to overeat or drink excessively, as at this time, the yang energy is weakest and cannot help the body transport too much food.
Winter health diet should not be too salty as it can damage the kidneys and yang qi. In addition, it is important to avoid overeating spicy and stimulating foods.
Folk customs
sacrifice
Many regions have the custom of worshipping the heavens and ancestors on the winter solstice, and there are still some places celebrating on this day. Every household provides family genealogy, ancestor portraits, plaques, etc. in the upper hall of their home, places offering tables, and arranges incense burners, offerings, etc. At the same time as ancestor worship, some places also offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth, worship the gods, and pray for good weather and prosperity in the coming year.
Eating dumplings
As the ancient saying goes, "On October 1st, on the winter solstice, every household eats dumplings." It can be seen that eating dumplings on the winter solstice has become an essential custom. Zhang Zhongjing, the "medical sage", once served as the governor of Changsha. After resigning from his position and returning to his hometown, he saw that his fellow villagers were pale and emaciated, suffering from hunger and cold. Many people's ears were frozen and rotten. Therefore, he ordered his disciples to set up a stove, boil lamb and cold dispelling herbs in a pot, then take them out and cut them into small pieces. They used bread to make "delicate ears", cooked them, and distributed them to those who came to seek medicine. After eating, people feel warm all over, their ears get hot, and their frostbitten ears are cured. Later generations learned the appearance of "Jiao'er" and packaged it into food, which is called "dumplings".
Jiujiu Xiaohan
Starting to brew yellow wine on the day of the beginning of winter is a traditional brewing custom in Shaoxing. In winter, the water is clear and the temperature is low, which can effectively inhibit the breeding of miscellaneous bacteria and form a good flavor during the low-temperature and long-term fermentation process of wine. It is the most suitable season for wine fermentation. Therefore, the people of Shaoxing refer to the period from the beginning of winter to the beginning of spring the following year, which is the most suitable time for making yellow wine, as "winter brewing", praying for blessings.
North South Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice North School Dumplings
On the winter solstice, it is essential for young people in the north to have a meal of dumplings. The custom of eating dumplings has a long history, and folk legends believe that dumplings originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty. The medical sage Zhang Zhongjing saw poor people getting sick and cold due to the cold, so he used some cold dispelling herbs (such as lamb and pepper) wrapped in dough to treat the disease and avoid frostbite on the patient's ears. From then on, people ate dumplings during the arrival of the cold, symbolizing good luck and welcoming the new year.
Winter Solstice Southern Style rice dumpling
On the day of the winter solstice, in some areas in the south of the Yangtze River, eating rice dumpling is popular, meaning reunion. On the early morning of the winter solstice, each household grinds glutinous rice and uses sugar, meat, vegetables, and other ingredients to make filling, wrapping it into a winter solstice ball. Not only do they eat it for themselves, but they also give it to relatives and friends as a gesture of blessings. There is also a folk saying that "eating rice dumpling is one year older".
Winter Solstice Rhythm
24 solar terms
Sing "Counting Nine Songs" from the Winter Solstice onwards
Baby, do you know how many days there are from 19 to 99 in total?
Winter Solstice Handicraft
The winter solstice is as big as the year, with dumplings in the north and rice dumpling in the south. Do you like dumplings or rice dumpling? Make a winter solstice craft and eat dumplings in advance!
Winter Solstice Picture Books
Winter Solstice, as an important node of the 24 solar terms in China, is the shortest day and longest night in the northern region of the Earth's equator.
The Winter Solstice is one of the four seasons and eight seasons, and is considered a major holiday in winter. In ancient times, there was a saying in folk culture that "the Winter Solstice is as big as the year".
