There is a folk proverb that "the winter solstice is as big as the new year." The "Hanshu" says: "The yang energy of the winter solstice rises, and the emperor has a long way to congratulate you." The world believes that the winter solstice is an auspicious day blessed by God. Therefore, they congratulate each other and entertain each other with great joy, which is more lively than celebrating the New Year. So what do you know about the customs of eating during the Winter Solstice?
1. Eating dumplings
In many places, there is a custom of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice. Among our Chinese folk, regardless of whether they are poor or rich, dumplings are an indispensable holiday food on people's tables. It is said that the custom of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice is due to Zhang Zhongjing’s kindness of giving “Jiao Er Soup” to dispel the cold. To this day in Nanyang, there is a folk proverb that “If you don’t bring dumpling bowls during the Winter Solstice, your ears will freeze and no one will care.”
2. Eating glutinous rice balls
Eating glutinous rice balls during the winter solstice is a traditional custom in my country, especially in the south. There is a folk saying that "eating glutinous rice balls makes you one year older". In Guangdong, eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice is also called glutinous rice balls. Eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice is also called "winter solstice dumplings". According to records from the Qing Dynasty, people in Jiangnan used glutinous rice flour to make dough, and stuffed it with essence, meat, apples, bean paste, shredded radish, etc. Nowadays, when making glutinous rice balls in many areas of Guangdong, some brown sugar is usually added to make sweet glutinous rice balls. In the Wuyi area of ??Jiangmen, "salty glutinous rice balls" are made, which are made of glutinous rice flour and rolled into glutinous rice balls, and then cut into strips as big as the fingers. Make the head a little bigger, then use scissors or a knife to cut it into small balls, square and round, and add Xinhui sweet water radish and other soup to make "salty glutinous rice balls".
3. Eating mutton
The custom of eating mutton during the Winter Solstice is said to have started in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, ate the mutton cooked by Fan Kuai on the day of the winter solstice. He thought it tasted particularly delicious and was full of praise. Since then, the folk custom of eating mutton during the Winter Solstice has been formed. People eat mutton and various nutritious foods on the day of the winter solstice in order to have a good omen in the coming year. In the Tengzhou area of ??Shandong Province, this day is called Fujiu. Before the festival, gifts such as mutton are given to the elders. Every household on Fujiu drinks mutton soup, which bodes well for the individual, the elders, and the family.
4. Eating wontons
Many places in southern my country have the custom of eating wontons during the winter solstice. During the Southern Song Dynasty, Lin'an (now Hangzhou) also had the custom of eating wontons every winter solstice. Zhou Mi from the Song Dynasty said that people in Lin'an eat wontons during the winter solstice to worship their ancestors. It was only in the Southern Song Dynasty that the custom of eating wontons to worship ancestors during the Winter Solstice became popular in my country. Since the development of wonton, it has become a famous snack with many names, different preparations, delicious flavor, spread all over the country, and deeply loved by people. There are many special wontons in various places that are highly praised by diners. The famous wontons from Chengdu Long Chaoshou Restaurant have many varieties, thin skin and tender fillings, and delicious soup.
5. Eat Winter Solstice noodles
As the saying goes, "Eating Winter Solstice noodles will make you grow longer every day." It means that after the Winter Solstice, the days will get longer and longer. "Winter Solstice Noodles", commonly known as "Dried Noodles", is one of the noodles. Eating Winter Solstice Noodles is a custom in Anhui during the Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice noodles are traditionally handmade by local people and are a traditional food custom during the Winter Solstice in my country. Handmade noodles are very particular in their production. They are made from high-quality wheat, with refined salt, eggs and other natural raw materials. They are made through 8 processes including mixing, rising, plating, hanging and pulling. In Hefei, Anhui Province, the custom of eating noodles during the winter solstice is related to the solar terms, climate, and farming. In the severe winter when dripping water turns into ice, eating a bowl of hot egg noodles is considered a winter solstice.
6. Drink winter wine
There has been a saying in Suzhou since ancient times, "If you don't drink winter wine during the winter solstice, you will have to freeze overnight." Every winter solstice, fragrant and delicious winter wine will definitely appear on the dining table of every household in Suzhou. Suzhou people and the Winter Solstice always have a bowl of winter wine that they cannot part with. Dongjiujiu is a low-alcohol rice wine added with osmanthus and some Chinese medicinal materials. Jiangnan is a rice-producing area, and brewing rice wine is popular among the people, while Suzhou is rich in sweet-scented osmanthus. Therefore, it is popular to drink winter wine with osmanthus added on the Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice is an auspicious and grand day, which represents the continuation of sunshine, hope and passion. The winter solstice is a time for family and friends to reunite and have fun. It is also a time to express gratitude for the past year's hard work and to feel grateful to soothe one's own or others' souls.
Celebrate the Winter Solstice, express your love, support and blessings to each other, and have a special and unforgettable Winter Solstice!