Why can’t you go back to your parents’ home during the winter solstice?

This is a feudal superstitious custom, which originates from the saying that if the winter solstice does not last, the father-in-law will die after the winter. It is said that on the winter solstice, a married daughter cannot go back to her parents' house for dinner and must go back to her husband's house. Otherwise, it will be very unlucky for her father-in-law.

What does the daughter-in-law’s spending the winter solstice at her parents’ home have to do with the husband’s happiness and disaster? Although everyone may have this idea, no one dares to violate it intentionally. If by chance, the husband happens to be seriously ill, who can bear the responsibility? Therefore, on the winter solstice, married daughters choose to go back to their in-laws’ house to spend the day.

In addition, there are several sayings that you cannot return to your natal family during the winter solstice:

First: In the past, it was very difficult for a daughter-in-law to live in her husband's family. The feudal ethical code of "three obediences and four virtues" is the most restrictive for a daughter-in-law. Therefore, in the early years, the daughter-in-law would pack her bags and go back to her parents' home to live all winter long after the busy farming season (wheat harvesting and planting in autumn) was over. After all, as the saying goes: A daughter feels free and at ease even in a place as big as an egg in her mother's family; in her husband's family, even in a big place she feels aggrieved. Also, in the old society, it was a joke to outsiders if a daughter did not live in her parents’ home. Look at her daughter, who lived in her husband’s house all year round and never came back to her parents’ house. She was hopeless and could not live without a man. So, when the busy farming season is over, I have to go back to my parents’ house to stay there all winter. That being said, it must be an incredible torment for those young couples. With the rule of "if the winter solstice does not pass the winter, the father-in-law will die if he survives the winter", the husband can take his wife home in an upright manner on the day before the winter solstice. As for wives, some will even pretend to say: If it weren't for the solar terms, I wouldn't want to go back. In fact, it is just words, and it is also the wife's wish for the husband and wife to be reunited.

Second: In daily life, conflicts and disputes inevitably arise between husband and wife, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Those angry daughters-in-law often get into trouble and go back to their parents' homes. Although her husband and the deacons and elders of her husband's family went to invite her many times, some wayward daughters-in-law still refused to give her face. No, the winter solstice is coming soon, and sensible parents will say: If your husband's family comes to pick you up again, just go back. If we don't go back, people will laugh at us. Therefore, the angry daughter-in-law will follow the current and go down the steps. A family conflict ended.

Third: In the poor days of the past, ordinary people would not be willing to eat dumplings to improve their lives. Even wealthy people would not be willing to do so. With the saying that if you don’t eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice, your ears will freeze off, eating a meal of dumplings all winter can be considered a high-sounding one. Poor families also have to find ways to make dumplings for their children. Eating dumplings means reunion. Can it be considered a reunion if the daughter-in-law doesn’t come home to eat? Therefore, it is natural to take my wife home. However, eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice is meaningless to modern people’s lives.

Everyone’s opinions on not returning to her parents’ home during the winter solstice:

@That Year Has Gone: They are all coaxing, and there are places where they say it’s better to go back! It’s just a custom in a place.

@ Tornado Weipike: This is a jingle. I will not spend the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year at my parents’ home. Is there any scientific reason for this?

@haoandrui: In what age are we still talking about this? What should I do if my son-in-law comes to my house?

@ Kyle’s Beibei: It’s all superstition. In the past, the patriarchal custom that men were superior to women and father-in-law was above all else, you can go wherever you like. Some netizens also came forward to express their own opinions:

@思平飞成沙: You are not allowed to go back to your parents’ home for dinner on August 15th. One year I wanted to celebrate the Reunion Festival with my mother, so I went back to celebrate the 15th. The locals were very surprised. My mother came to my rescue and said: My husband’s family doesn’t like this. My father-in-law has always been in good health and is over 80 years old! It seems that this statement is all superstition! Although they know it is superstitious, many people still have to do as the Romans do:

@本大王是大富: So I had to rush back at 9pm the night before!

@同城会会: I have always known that this statement is unfounded, but don’t let the elderly violate taboos and don’t go back to your parents’ home on this day.

@Xuzhouwangyu: How embarrassing are you for the girls who want to go home and have a meal?

Other customs and taboos about the Winter Solstice?

1. Go home early. Legend has it that at midnight on this day, the yin energy is particularly strong. If you stay in the wilderness, you will see the spectacle of hundreds of ghosts walking at night, so everyone should go home early during the Ghost Festival. With. It’s better not to work overtime today. If you really have to work overtime, just go home and catch up.

2. Don’t insert chopsticks upside down. Don’t insert two chopsticks in the middle of the rice. This is like inserting incense on the incense burner. It is the mode of worship. That person will think that you are inviting him to share the food.

3. Don't swim or play in dangerous waters. According to legend, "water ghosts" will find someone to be a scapegoat in order to be reincarnated?

4. Don't be greedy for money and don't pick up the road. The money on the side is used to buy off the bulls and horses. If you infringe on their things, you will be easily punished by them

5. Don’t look back and don’t look back easily. When walking in the wilderness or sparsely populated areas When you are in a place where you feel like someone is calling you, don't look back easily, that could be the one.