The weather, personnel, and the sun are urging, and the winter solstice sun and spring come again. The 2021 winter solstice falls at 23:58 on December 21.
For the ancients, the winter solstice was a big day, and there was even a saying that “winter solstice is a big Chinese New Year”. The winter solstice is also called “Ya Sui”, meaning that the new year is approaching and its importance is second only to the Lunar New Year.
Since ancient times, folks have spent the winter solstice, and the traditions of different places are very different. Most of the winter solstice wontons are eaten in the north, which means that the winter solstice is the beginning of the chaos of the world. Of course, there are also dumplings, such as the Northeast. In the south, especially in the Jiangnan area, glutinous rice balls are commonly eaten, which means reunion. Most Malaysians eat glutinous rice balls during the winter solstice.
Here brings you the traditions of the winter solstice.
1. Eat glutinous rice balls
Eating glutinous rice balls is a tradition in the winter solstice, especially popular in Jiangnan. “Tangyuan” is a must-have food for the winter solstice. It is a round dessert made with glutinous rice flour. “Yuan” means “reunion” and “consummation”. Eating dumplings in the winter solstice is also called the “winter solstice group”. There is a saying among the folks that “eating glutinous rice balls one year older”. The winter solstice group can be used to worship ancestors, and can also be used to exchange friends and relatives.
2. Eat wontons/wontons
People eating wonton on the winter solstice is related to the astronomical phenomenon because the winter solstice means that winter has reached its extreme point. The day of the winter solstice is the beginning of the rising of Yang Qi in the year, just as the beginning of the chaos, so people use wontons to symbolize breaking the chaos and opening up the world.
3. Eat dumplings
In northern China, Henan, and other places, it is a tradition to eat dumplings for the winter solstice. Legend has it that the traditions of eating dumplings in the winter solstice were left by Zhang Zhongjing, the “medical sage” of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and was related to the prevention of epidemics and diseases. Eating dumplings in the winter solstice is passed on to future generations, which is the practice of healthy luck. In addition, there is also a saying that dumplings are shaped like ingots, and eating dumplings implies wealth.
4. Eat pork knuckle noodles to prolong your life
According to Taiwanese tradition, when you commit a Tai Sui year, your parents will be blessed, so you have to buy pork knuckle noodles for your parents to eat to prolong your life and eliminate bad luck. If you commit a Tai Sui zodiac, you can also eat a bowl of pork knuckle noodles and flip it for good luck.
5. Worship ancestors for prosperity
As early as the Zhou Dynasty, the emperor chose to hold the ceremony of the Jiao Si on the winter solstice. Because the sun belongs to the sun and the night is overcast, after the winter solstice, the white days will grow longer and the sun will flourish, so it is the best time to worship the sky. Place glutinous rice balls on the table to worship ancestors, praying for the prosperity of future generations.
In addition, Taoism regards the winter solstice as the birthday of Yuanshi Tianzun, which is a collection of many beginnings. This day is good for blessing.
