The winter solstice is a solar term that reflects the direct movement of the sun's rays. On this day, the sun travels southward to the extreme and directly shines on the Tropic of Cancer , so the winter solstice is also called the southern solstice. In fact, the winter solstice is not only a solar term in winter, but also a traditional folk festival since ancient times. There is a folk saying that "the winter solstice is as big as the new year", which shows that the grandness of the winter solstice is comparable to the Chinese New Year. However, this also shows that the origin of the winter solstice means that the end of the year is approaching and the new year is not far away.
Our lives are very busy. Fortunately, our ancestors left behind various traditional festivals so that we can rest and feel what life should be like. Our country has a splendid folk culture. On the day of the Winter Solstice, rich and diverse traditional customs are popular among the people, both in the north and the south. People are busy and lively, the fireworks are coming out, and the atmosphere of the New Year is gradually filling up.
Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice Festival. Do you still remember what traditional customs are popular in your hometown? Let’s share some with you: 5 things to eat, 4 things to do, and 3 things to avoid. You need to understand the traditional culture. Let’s take a look!
[5 things to eat]
1. Eating dumplings
In the northern region of , no matter how busy they are on the Winter Solstice, every household must make a meal of dumplings. This is a tradition left by the elders. Another part of this story comes from the legend that "Medical Saint" Zhang Zhongjing set up a medicine shed at the winter solstice, stuffed meat and medicine into dough, and made it into the shape of an ear. After cooking, it was given to the people who were suffering from cold, and the people's frozen ears were cured. From then on, the custom of eating dumplings on the winter solstice gradually became popular. In cold weather, eating a bowl of hot dumplings can really warm up your body.
Recommended recipe: Pork and fennel dumplings
1. Half a pound of pork filling, preferably fat and lean, of course the proportion of lean meat should be more, mince it directly or mince it with the help of meat grinder . Add light soy sauce, white pepper , salt, and mix thoroughly. Then pour in some scallion oil. The dumpling filling must be filled with scallion oil, otherwise it will not be fragrant. Stir the oil and meat evenly again.
2, a small bundle of fennel , pick them first, pick out the yellow leaves, rotten stems, etc., leaving only the fresh and tender parts. After washing, drain the water from the leafy stems and chop them into small pieces.
3. Pour the fennel into the pork filling, stir evenly, then add salt according to the saltiness, pour in some sesame oil to add flavor, and you can start wrapping.
4. Fennel is homophonic with "returning to hometown", which means returning home for reunion. It means good luck and is delicious. Eating some fennel in winter is also very beneficial, as it helps digestion and appetizers.
2. Eating glutinous rice balls
As important as dumplings, in the vast areas of the south, glutinous rice balls are a must-have food on the winter solstice. Tangyuan is also called "Winter Solstice Yuan", which means happy reunion. Tangyuan is usually made of glutinous rice noodles or rhubarb rice noodles and filled with sweet or salty fillings. It tastes soft, glutinous and delicious, and warms the stomach and heart.
When eating glutinous rice balls during the Winter Solstice, they must be round and round, and cannot be boiled. First of all, the water for cooking the glutinous rice balls should be wide, that is, add more water. In addition, do not wait until the pot is boiling before adding the glutinous rice balls. When there are dense small bubbles at the bottom of the pot, add the glutinous rice balls, stir, cover and boil. At this time, you need to order water twice, that is, add a small bowl of cold water. After boiling, add cold water again. After boiling again, it will be cooked.
3. Eating buckwheat noodles Buckwheat noodles
In the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions of my country, the custom of eating buckwheat noodles is popular among the people. It is said that married daughters also have to return to their parents' homes to eat buckwheat noodles with their families. Eating soba noodles is believed to clear away dirt from the stomach. Soba noodles are a kind of whole grain noodles, low in calories and rich in dietary fiber . Eating some of them is indeed good for the body.
Recommended recipe: Soba Soba Noodles in Sour Soup
1. First, adjust the sour soup juice, two spoons of light soy sauce, two spoons of vinegar, half a spoonful of salt, a little chicken essence, a little sugar, chopped green onion. If you like spicy food, add a spoonful of spicy oil and mix well.
2. Add an appropriate amount of water to the pot and bring to a boil. First, boil a poached egg. Scoop some hot water with a spoon, beat the egg in, and then gently put it into the pot after it is set. After further cooking, take it out.
3. Continue to add more water in the pot. After the water boils, add buckwheat noodles and cook for a while to ensure that the buckwheat noodles are thoroughly cooked. Then add some green vegetables and boil until cooked.
4. First ladle some hot soup into a bowl, stir well with the prepared sauce, then add noodles, add green vegetables, poached eggs, and tomatoes, and you are ready to enjoy. It's sour and refreshing, and it also meets nutritional needs.
4. Eating red beans and glutinous rice
In some areas in the south of the Yangtze River, families gather together to eat red beans and glutinous rice on the night of the winter solstice. It is said that there was a man named Gonggong who had an incompetent son who died on the winter solstice and became a witch who harmed the people. Later, people learned that he was afraid of red beans, so they cooked red bean rice during the winter solstice to ward off disasters. In the cold winter, eating some glutinous rice can also help warm up the body, and red beans can provide us with plant protein and a variety of trace elements , which are also very nutritious ingredients.
How to make red bean and glutinous rice :
Take out the glutinous rice and red beans one night in advance, clean them, add water and soak them overnight.
The next day, mix the red beans and glutinous rice, add 1.2-1.3 times the amount of water, put it into a steamer or steamer, and steam for about 40 minutes until the glutinous rice and red beans are thoroughly steamed.
5. Eating chicken
In Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, my country, there is a folk custom of "eating chicken on the ninth day". The arrival of the winter solstice has officially opened the count-nine mode, so chicken is also a traditional food during the winter solstice. Chicken is mild and nutritious, and can replenish energy and protein for people. It is a good nourishing food in the cold weather.
Recommended recipe: Steamed Chicken with Scallion Oil
1. A native chicken of about two pounds, cut off the chicken butt, chicken feet, chicken head and fat, and clean it. Rub the chicken with salt and pepper and marinate for about an hour.
2. Put it in a steamer, put some ginger slices in the belly and surface of the chicken, steam it over high heat for about 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked.
3. Then cut it into small pieces. Don’t waste the soup on the bottom of the basin. Pour it into the chicken.
4. Cut some green onions, separate the white part from the green onion leaves, and prepare some minced ginger. Heat the oil in a pan. Fry the white part of the green onions first until they are slightly browned. Add the green onion leaves and minced ginger and fry until fragrant.
5. Then pour the fried scallion oil into the chicken, continue to pour in some steamed fish soy sauce or cold soy sauce, and you are ready to enjoy.
[Do 4 things]
1. Worship ancestors
In Southern Song Dynasty Meng Yuanlao's " Tokyo Menghualu "Winter Solstice in November. This festival is the most important in the capital. Even the poorest people will accumulate money in a year. On this day, they will wear new clothes, prepare meals, and enjoy ancestor worship. Officials will release the customs and celebrate the comings and goings, just like the New Year."
It can be seen that in the past, people attached great importance to the winter solstice. They had to put on new clothes, prepare banquets, and worship their ancestors. To this day, many areas in my country still retain the custom of worshiping ancestors on the winter solstice. Chinese people attach great importance to filial piety, and ancestor worship is the main form of filial piety to their ancestors. During important festivals, they always want to give good food and drink to their ancestors, and tell their ancestors about the good things at home. Of course, we also hope that our ancestors can keep our families safe and healthy, which is also people’s hope for a better life.
2. Making tofu
Tofu is homophonic to "Du Fu" and "Du Fu", and people like to get good luck.In many areas, tofu is made before and after the winter solstice. People use the newly harvested beans that year, soak, grind, filter, cook, stew, and shape. Some of the tofu is eaten directly, some is made into dried tofu for long-term storage, and some are fried tofu and croquettes to create a New Year atmosphere.
3. Become a teacher
Respecting teachers and respecting education is a traditional virtue in our country. Teachers teach students and students respect their teachers. On the day of the winter solstice, the custom of worshiping a teacher is popular in many areas of our country. In the past farming society, people were usually very busy, but during the winter solstice, people had the opportunity to take some time off, so they would visit their teachers to show respect and greetings.
4. Give away shoes and socks
On the winter solstice, the sun shines on the Tropic of Capricorn. This is the time of the year when the sun’s shadow is the longest. The ancients would offer shoes and socks to their elders, taking the longest sun’s shadow of their feet to wish them health and longevity. It can be seen that the Winter Solstice is an important festival to express filial piety.
[Three things to avoid]
1. Avoid traveling far away
In the past, people were particular about not traveling far away during the winter solstice, because on the winter solstice, the day is the shortest and the night is the longest. If you go too far, you will not be able to get home before dark. The winter solstice is also about family reunion, so it is best not to go far and rush home as early as possible to avoid ruining the festive atmosphere.
2. Avoid weddings
The Winter Solstice is a festival for worshiping ancestors and also a festival for reunion, so it is best for the family to stay together, so weddings are obviously not suitable. Firstly, a wedding will destroy the atmosphere of ancestor worship. Secondly, for the bride, a wedding means leaving her family. Therefore, when choosing a wedding date, it is best to avoid the winter solstice.
3. Avoid moving
Moving is a festive day for people. People move into a new home and start a new life. They all want to choose a good day to wish their lives a stable and smooth life. However, the winter solstice is a day for people to worship their ancestors, so it is obviously not suitable for moving.
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