When is the solstice this winter? What are the customs?
Tengzhou mutton soup
It is said that the custom of eating mutton from winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. Now in Tengzhou, Shandong Province, the solstice in winter is called Fujiu. Before the festival, the elders will be given mutton and other gifts, and every family in Fujiu will drink mutton soup, which is a good sign for individuals, elders and families.
Jiangnan rice
In Jiangnan water town, there is a custom that the whole family get together to eat red beans and glutinous rice on the night of winter solstice, which is used to ward off evil spirits and prevent diseases.
Nuogao, Taiwan Province Province
In Taiwan Province Province, China, the tradition of offering nine-layer cakes to ancestors from winter to the sun is still preserved. Glutinous rice flour is used to knead animals such as chickens, ducks, turtles, pigs, cattle and sheep. , a symbol of good luck, and then put it in a steamer and steam it layer by layer to worship the ancestors to show that they don't forget their ancestors.
Taizhou Yuan Lei
People in Taizhou, Zhejiang like food, and winter solstice is an important solar term in a year. To make some special dishes and food on this day, we should first pay homage to our ancestors and pray that they will bless the whole family with peace and happiness in the new year. Then the family happily get together to drink and eat vegetables. Among them, eating "winter solstice yen" (also called hard round and rough round) is an old tradition in Taizhou, which means round, smooth and reunion.
Suzhou liquor making
Gusu region attaches great importance to the solar terms of the winter solstice. There is a proverb in Gusu region: "The winter solstice is like a new year". Traditional Gusu people will drink winter wine on the night of winter solstice. Winter wine is a kind of rice wine, which is brewed with sweet-scented osmanthus and has a pleasant aroma. Gusu people will drink winter wine on the night of winter solstice, and at the same time, they will serve all kinds of braised beef and braised mutton.
Jiangxi hemp cake
Asako, a specialty of Zhejiang and Jiangxi, is also a traditional snack of Fujian people and a sacrifice of Fujian people.
Guangdong Chaoshan Tangyuan
The folk proverb of the Han nationality in Chaoshan area says, "The winter festival is as big as a year" and "The winter festival has not returned to the ancestors". This means that people who go out must go home to worship their ancestors on the solstice in winter anyway, otherwise they will have no concept of ancestral home. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait attach great importance to the winter solstice, regard it as a festival of reunion, and have the custom of eating jiaozi.
Zhejiang Jiaxing longan boiled eggs
The winter solstice is a big festival in ancient times, and Jiaxing emphasizes the winter solstice. As the saying goes, "the solstice in winter is as big as a year", and the ancient style is preserved. According to the Records of Jiaxing Prefecture (Volume 34: Customs), "The winter solstice is celebrated first, and it is like a New Year's Day ceremony". Folk advocates winter solstice tonic, including red bean glutinous rice and ginseng soup; Tremella, stewed walnuts, longan boiled eggs, etc. Up to now, Jiaxing still inherits the custom of eating "longan and boiled eggs" in winter solstice. Old people say that because the winter solstice is the longest night in a year, if they don't eat it, they will freeze all night and be hungry in the middle of the night.