After Major Snow comes Winter Solstice. Winter Solstice is also known as Shu Jiu, Sub-year, etc. Since ancient times, it has been regarded as the major winter solar term, second only to New Year's Eve in importance. It is the earliest solar term formulated among the 24 solar terms. Winter Solstice originated in Han Dynasty and flourished in Tang and Song Dynasties. There is even a folk saying that "Winter Solstice is as important as New Year ". This shows that ancient people attached great importance to Winter Solstice. This solar term carries wishes of the ancient people to eliminate disasters and welcome new expectations.
大雪过后，便是冬至。冬至，又称数九、亚岁等。自古被视为冬季的大节气，重要性仅次于除夕，是二十四节气中最早被制定的一个节气，冬至过节源于汉代，盛于唐宋，相沿至今。民间甚至有“冬至大如年”之说。这表明古人对冬至十分重视。这个节气承载着古人消灾迎新的期盼。
Winter Solstice has three meanings, one is Ying qi ends; Second, Yang qi begins; Three is the sun to the most southern point of the sun.
冬至有三层含义，一是阴极之至；二是阳气始至；三是日行南至，是太阳直射点最南的时候。
When Winter Solstice arrives, everything is closed and dormant. It is best to be "quiet without disturbance" between us. During Winter Solstice, as the epidemic is spreading, people are expected to reduce their outdoor activities to protect themselves and "others".
冬至到了，万物都在闭藏、休眠，大家相互之间最好能够做到“静而无扰”。冬至时节，伴随疫情的蔓延态势，大家减少外出，既是呵护自己，也是爱护“别人”.
So how can you celebrate Winter Solstice at home?
那么在家里，大家可以怎么欢度冬至呢？
Winter Solstice | folklore
冬至|民俗
1. People Eats Dumplings in the North
1.北方吃饺子
A common custom during Winter Solstice is to eat dumplings. There is a saying in the north that "eating dumplings during Winter Solstice will protect your ears from frozenness". This custom is to commemorate the "medical saint" ,Zhang Zhongjing, who gave out medicine in charity on this day.
冬至一个普遍的风俗，是吃饺子。北方有“冬至吃饺子不冻耳朵”的说法。这种习俗是因纪念“医圣”张仲景冬至施舍药物留下的。
2.People Eats Tangyuan in the South
2.南方吃汤圆
In the south, it is popular to eat tangyuan, a rice-flour dumpling，during Winter Solstice. There is a folk saying that "one year older if one eats tangyuan". Tangyuan is a round dessert made of glutinous rice flour. "Round" means reunion and completeness, so eating rice-flour dumplings on Winter Solstice is also called "Winter Solstice ball".
在南方，冬至盛行吃汤圆，民间也有“吃了汤圆大一岁”的说法。汤圆是一种用糯米粉制成的圆形甜品。“圆”意味着团圆、圆满，所以冬至吃汤圆又叫“冬至团”。
3.Offering Sacrifices to the Sky and Ancestors.
3.祭天祭祖
In many regions on Winter Solstice, there is a custom of offering sacrifices to the sky and ancestors. At the same time, some places also offer sacrifices to the gods of heaven and earth and worship the gods, in order to pray for good weather and good luck in the coming year.
很多地区在冬至这一天，有祭天祭祖的习俗。祭祖的同时，有的地方也祭祀天神、土地神，叩拜神灵。以祈福来年风调雨顺，家和万事兴。
The End
结语
Paint plum blossom to wish you all the best when Winter Solstice has arrived and wait for spring. This freezing-cold day has the breath of New Year and savings of spring, Let’s forget all the pain and embrace a new beginning.
冬至已至，画梅以祝君顺遂，静待春归。在这片极寒里，已有了新年的气息和春的积蓄，就把来路的烦恼苦痛全部清零，去拥抱一个崭新的开始。
Author: Chen Yujuan
Date: December 15, 2022
