Are there any customs during the Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice is one of the four seasons and eight festivals. Customs vary in content or details depending on the region. In some coastal areas of southern China, there is a custom of worshiping ancestors and feasting during the Winter Solstice. In northern China, there is a custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice every year. So what other customs are there during the Winter Solstice? Let me explain it to you~

1. Eating glutinous rice balls

"In the winter, every family eats glutinous rice balls." Eating glutinous rice balls is popular in Jiangnan. Tangyuan, also known as glutinous rice balls, is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Yuan" means "reunion" and "completeness", so eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice is also called "Winter Solstice Tuan". Jiangnan is the main rice-producing area. Folks in Yangzhou, Nantong, Wuxi, Zhenjiang and other places in Jiangsu have the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the winter solstice.

2. Eating dumplings

Northerners love dumplings too deeply. After all, they have to eat dumplings all year round, no matter what the solar term is. Without dumplings, it is not a festival. Moreover, they don’t serve dumpling bowls during the Winter Solstice, and no one cares if their ears are frozen. This shows how high the status of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice is in their hearts, especially those from the Northeast, who love dumplings so deeply! ?

The tradition of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice is said to be related to the Chinese medical scientist Zhang Zhongjing. He invented dumplings and was originally named "Jiao'er". He once used "Cold-Expelling Jiao'er Decoction" to treat the disease. It helped many poor people whose ears were broken by hunger and cold. Later, every winter solstice, everyone would imitate the practice and eat dumplings, and there was a custom of eating dumplings. The fillings of dumplings are not very particular. Northeastern people like to eat pickled cabbage fillings, Shandong people like to eat mackerel fillings, Beijingers like fennel fillings, and some people like home-cooked leek, eggs, mushrooms and pork the most. Dumplings, can they be unpalatable? !

3. Red bean and glutinous rice

In the Jiangnan water towns, there is a custom of the whole family gathering together to eat red bean and glutinous rice on the night of the winter solstice. According to legend, there was a man of the Gong family who was not talented and committed many evil deeds. He died on the winter solstice and turned into a plague ghost after his death. He was most afraid of red beans. Therefore, people eat red bean rice on the winter solstice to drive away plague ghosts, prevent disasters and cure diseases.

4. Shallot and Scallion Tofu

Changzhou people must have a bowl of "Scallion and Scallion Tofu" on the night of the winter solstice! Eating "scallion and tofu" seems to be a unique custom in Changzhou. "Du" is the Changzhou dialect, which means "cooking". Why do people in Changzhou eat scallions and tofu overnight during the winter solstice? There is a saying that "rich" and "fu" are homophonic, and the folk proverb "If you want to be rich, eat scallions and tofu overnight during the winter solstice" caters to the people's desire for a wealthy life.

5. Stewed tofu with green vegetables

"Shao Bao and eat tofu on the count of nine" is a standard dish during the Winter Solstice in Nanjing. "Shao Bao" is to worship ancestors, and "counting to nine" is to welcome the new year. Green vegetables and tofu were the most common vegetables in ordinary households in the past, and they have the meaning of "clean and white" and "green vegetables and tofu keep safe". "Drink chicken soup during the Winter Solstice to make up for the whole year." In addition to tofu, chicken soup is also a "standard dish" on the Winter Solstice table for Nanjing people.

6. Worshiping heaven and ancestors?

Many areas have the custom of worshiping heaven and ancestors on the winter solstice. There are still some places celebrating the winter solstice. Every household places family trees, ancestor images, memorial tablets, etc. in the upper hall of the home, sets up the offering table, arranges incense burners, offerings, etc. While worshiping ancestors, some places also offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth, and worship the gods to pray for good weather and prosperity for the family and everything in the coming year.

The winter solstice is the harbinger of spring. Although winter is approaching gradually, the footsteps of spring can be vaguely heard in the howling cold wind.