When is the solstice in the winter of 2023?
The winter solstice is the most important of the 24 solar terms. According to the Gregorian calendar, the winter solstice is on February 22-23 every year. On this day, the sun moved to 270 degrees. At the southernmost latitude, the sun shines directly on the Tropic of Capricorn, with the shortest day and the longest night in the northern hemisphere (in the Arctic Circle, it is night all the time). On the solstice of winter, the height of the sun at noon is also the lowest in the northern hemisphere. For example, in Beijing, the height of the sun is only 26 42'. Because the shadow at noon on this day is the longest, it is also called "growing to the sun".
China attached great importance to the winter solstice in ancient times, and stipulated that the same month as the winter solstice was the "sub-month", which was the first branch of the twelve solar terms. Therefore, the winter solstice is still a traditional festival, commonly known as "Winter Festival" and "Dragon Solstice Festival". In ancient China, people attached great importance to the winter solstice and thought it was a grand festival. There is a saying that the winter solstice is as big as a year, and there is a custom to celebrate it.
Festive attention
Han Shu said: The sun is the soul of the winter solstice, and the monarch is long-lived, so congratulations. It is believed that after the winter solstice, the days become longer and longer, and the spirit of the sun is rising, which is the beginning of a solar cycle. This is also an auspicious day and should be celebrated. It is recorded in the Book of Jin that the winter solstice in Wei and Jin Dynasties is a festival celebrated by all countries and generations, which is second only to Zheng Dan, indicating that ancient times attached importance to the winter solstice. Now, some places still celebrate the winter solstice as a festival.
In northern China, it is customary to slaughter sheep and eat jiaozi and wonton from winter solstice. On this day, the southern region has the habit of eating glutinous rice balls and long noodles from winter to sun, and also has the custom of offering sacrifices to heaven and ancestors from winter to sun. Winter solstice is one of the twenty-four solar terms and one of the most important solar terms. Winter solstice is a solar term divided by astronomy, which was called "short day" and "short day" in ancient times.