The origin of the winter solstice festival is 150 words.
It was not until Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted the summer calendar that the first month was separated from the solstice in winter. Therefore, it can also be said that the "Winter Solstice Festival" began in the Han Dynasty, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and has existed ever since.
It is said that the custom of eating mutton from winter solstice began in the Han Dynasty. According to legend, Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han Dynasty, ate mutton cooked in Fan Kuai on the solstice of winter, which was particularly delicious and full of praise. Since then, the custom of eating mutton from winter solstice has been formed among the people.
Winter solstice is one of the eight festivals in a year. In ancient times, there was a custom of "eight festivals" to worship the gods and ancestors. Winter solstice is regarded as a big holiday in winter. There is a folk saying that winter solstice is as big as a year, so the ancients called it "sub-year" or "off-year".
In some coastal areas in southern China, the traditional custom of offering sacrifices to ancestors during the winter solstice is still continuing. In some areas of northern China, it is a custom to eat jiaozi every winter solstice.