As soon as the winter solstice arrives in the north, families will be busy preparing various dumpling wrappers and dumpling fillings, and then the family will sit around making and eating dumplings to celebrate the winter solstice together. So do you know how the custom of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice came about? The origin of the custom of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice

Every year on the Winter Solstice in the lunar calendar, dumplings are an essential holiday meal for everyone, rich or poor. A proverb goes: "On October 1st, when the winter solstice arrives, every household eats dumplings." This custom was left to commemorate the "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing who gave up medicine during the winter solstice.

Zhang Zhongjing was from Gendong, Nanyang. He wrote Treatise on Febrile Diseases and Miscellaneous Diseases, which is a collection of medical achievements and is regarded as a classic by doctors of all ages. Zhang Zhongjing has a famous saying: "If you advance, you will save the world; if you retreat, you will save the people; if you cannot be a good prime minister, you should also be a good doctor." During the Eastern Han Dynasty, he served as the prefect of Changsha, visiting patients and administering medicine, and practicing medicine in the lobby. Later, he resolutely resigned and returned to his hometown to treat his neighbors. It was winter when he returned home. He saw that the villagers on both sides of the Baihe River were sallow and thin, hungry and cold, and many of them had their ears rotten by the cold. He asked his disciples to set up a medical tent and a large pot in Dongguan, Nanyang, and make "Quhan Jiaoer Decoction" to treat chilblains on the winter solstice. He put mutton, chili peppers and some cold-repelling medicinal herbs in a pot and boiled them. Then he took out the mutton and the medicinal herbs, chopped them into pieces, and used bread to make ear-shaped "jiao ears". After cooking, he distributed them to those who came to seek medicine. Each person has two "Jiao Er" and a large bowl of broth. People ate "Jiao Er" and drank "Qu Han Tang", their whole bodies became warm, their ears felt hot, and their frostbitten ears were cured. Later generations imitated the appearance of "Jiao Er" and wrapped them into food, also called "dumplings" or "flat food".

It has been nearly 1,800 years since Zhang Zhongjing was born, but the story of his making "Jiaoer Soup to dispel cold" has been widely circulated among the people. Every winter solstice, when people eat dumplings, they still remember Zhang Zhongjing’s kindness in their hearts. To this day, there is still a folk song in Nanyang, "If you don't bring dumpling bowls during the winter solstice, your ears will freeze off and no one will care". Customs of the Winter Solstice

1. Eating tofu

In some areas in the north, the Winter Solstice Festival is called the "Tofu Festival". On this festival day, every family eats tofu mixed with green onions. Why is there such a festival food custom? This comes from a historical allusion. It is said that when Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Empire, one day he suddenly received a secret report: Liu Bowen, an important official in the imperial court, had rebelled. Zhu Yuanzhang then issued an edict ordering Liu Bowen to hand over all the accounts under his control for trial within three days. Three days later, Liu Bowen came to see Zhu Yuanzhang with an account book and an earthen jar. Zhu Yuanzhang reviewed the accounts and found them correct; when he opened the jar, he found a home-cooked dish: tofu mixed with green onions. Zhu Yuanzhang understood immediately: This was Liu Bowen defending himself, implying that he was in the clear! So, this festival food custom came into being. 2. Eat red bean rice

In the Jiangnan water towns, on the night of the winter solstice, the whole family will gather together to eat red bean glutinous rice. Why is there such a festival food custom? This comes from a mythical story. The son of Gong, the ancient god of heaven, relied on his father's reputation to do evil everywhere. He died of illness on the winter solstice, but it turned into a plague and still plagued the people. The plague is most afraid of red beans, so people eat red bean rice every family on the night of the winter solstice to ward off the plague, cure diseases and prevent plague. 3. Eating dog meat

The custom of eating dog meat during the Winter Solstice originated from Liu Bang, the great ancestor of the Han Dynasty: During the winter solstice of a certain year, Liu Bang ate the stewed dog meat sent by General Fan Kuai and was so addicted that it became a folk custom of eating dog meat during the Winter Solstice. The custom of dog meat. Eating dog meat in winter is not only a festival custom, but also has scientific reasons: dog meat has an aphrodisiac and nourishing effect. Eating more dog meat in winter can help enhance the body's ability to withstand the cold and strengthen the body. Dog meat is eaten during the winter solstice in the north. It is mainly stewed in hot pot. While stewing, some tofu slices, dried cabbage, etc. are also added.

The above are the stories and customs of eating dumplings during the Winter Solstice that I know. Friends, what other customs do you know?