The origin of making glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice

Part 1: The origin of making glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice

In the Chaoshan area, the Winter Solstice is also called "Little Chinese New Year" and is a big folk festival. On this day, people should prepare enough pork, chicken, fish and other animals and fruits, go to the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors, and then have a meal with their families around the table. In coastal areas, before fishermen go out to sea to fish, they have to worship their ancestors, pray for the fishermen, and ask gods and ancestors to bless them and return safely from the sea.

In Chaoshan, there is a saying that if you eat winter festival balls, you will be one year older. Among them, "winter festival balls" are glutinous rice balls. They are also called sweet balls in Chaoshan area. It is almost customary to eat sweet balls on the day of the winter solstice. Popularize the entire Chaoshan area. A long time ago, these sweet pills were not only for eating, but people also posted them on the top of their doors and roof beams. Firstly, the round sweet pills heralded a good harvest and family reunion next year. Secondly, In order to thank the mice for sending grain seeds to farmers. Nowadays, people no longer post sweet dumplings, but the custom of eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice Festival is still passed down to this day. Chapter 2: The origin of making glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice

Today is the Winter Solstice, and our school has a day off.

The Winter Solstice is a very important solar term in our Chinese lunar calendar and a traditional festival of the Chinese nation. The winter solstice is the earliest one of the twenty-four solar terms. It has the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere. The shadow produced at noon is also the longest of the year. Putian also has the custom of sweeping the tombs of ancestors during the winter solstice. I heard from the old man that on this day, northerners eat dumplings and southerners eat glutinous rice balls to celebrate the festival.

On the day of the winter solstice, our whole family was full of joy and the festive atmosphere was very strong. Grandma and mother were making glutinous rice balls, and I was helping to peel the peanuts. When grandma fried the peanuts, I scrambled to crush them. After mixing the glutinous rice balls powder into puree, we started to make the glutinous rice balls. Grandma and mother worked very quickly. During the conversation, they rolled out a lot of them. They were round and shiny, so tempting! Needless to say, they must be very delicious. It was so delicious that I couldn't help but swallow.

In this way, our family ate glutinous rice balls on the Winter Solstice. What did everyone eat on the Winter Solstice?