The Winter Solstice is ushered in at 11:27 p.m. on December 22nd. On this day, the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn, and the northern hemisphere has the shortest day and the longest night. Winter Solstice is a very important festival in ancient times, there is "Winter Solstice is as big as the year", our ancestors have always started from this day by "counting nine", and recording the Winter Solstice to the equinox of the next year, the changes in the physical climate. "Counting nine" is the number of hope, the heart loaded with the expectation of spring, not too fast and not too slow, the number of days to warm, waiting for spring to come.
12月22日11时27分，迎来冬至节气。这一天，太阳直射南回归线，北半球昼最短，夜最长。冬至是古代一个非常重要的节日，有“冬至大如年”之说，我们的祖先也总是从这一天开始“数九”，记录冬至到来年春分的物候变化。“数九”数的是希望，心中装着对春的期盼，不疾不徐，日日数到暖，静候春日来。
The Winter Solstice comes with many interesting weather phenomena. A wait for the earthworm knot: earthworms in the soil are still curled up in the body. The second wait for the elkhorn solution: elk's sense of yin Qi gradually recedes and unhorn. The third water springs move: because the Winter Solstice after the sun's point of direct sunlight back to the north, the sun back and forth moves into a new cycle, the sun's altitude then back up, the day grows day by day, at this time the spring in the mountains can flow and warm water.
冬至到来之际，有很多有趣的物候现象。一候蚯蚓结：土中的蚯蚓仍然蜷缩着身体。二候麋角解：麋感阴气渐退而解角。三候水泉动：由于冬至后太阳直射点往北回返，太阳往返运动进入新的循环，太阳高度自此回升、白昼逐日增长，此时山中的泉水可以流动并且温热。
In northern China, there has always been the custom of eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice. Proverb: "October 1, the Winter Solstice for the household to eat dumplings." It is also said that eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice is not forgetting the kindness of Zhang Zhongjing, the "Sage of Medicine", who made the "Cold-removing Jiao Er Tang". Soup dumplings are one of the most common winter foods in the south, and have many beautiful blessings. The word "round" means "reunion" and "fullness". Eating dumplings on the Winter Solstice is also called "Winter Solstice dough". As the old saying goes, "When families pound rice to make soup dumplings, they know that it is the Winter Solstice day in the morning." The general meaning is that when every family starts to make dumplings, they know that the Winter Solstice is coming. In addition, in folklore, there is also a Winter Solstice to eat dumplings, that is to add a year of saying.
在中国北方地区，一直有冬至吃饺子的习俗。谚云：“十月一，冬至到家户户吃水饺。”冬至吃饺子还有说是不忘“医圣”张仲景“祛寒娇耳汤”之恩。汤圆是南方地区最常见的一种冬天食物，且有着诸多美好的祝福之语。“圆”，也就是团圆、美满的意思。冬至吃汤圆，又叫“冬至团”。古人有云：“家家捣米做汤圆，知是明朝冬至天。”大抵意思就是指当家家户户都开始在做汤圆的时候，就知道冬至要来了。此外，在民间，还流传着冬至吃汤圆，就表示增添一岁的说法。
Do not forget to strengthen your body while enjoying the food. The so-called Winter Solstice, a Yang Sheng, means that at this time the body's Yang Qi is still a weak flame, very easy to feel the wind and cold and extinguished. Cold even hurts yang more leading to disease and delayed healing. Therefore, keeping warm and cold is the Winter Solstice health's priority. Cold winter months, advocating winter hiding. Most people live indoors, go out, and reduce activities, some even stop exercising, which is not desirable. Despite the cold weather, you should maintain a routine and exercise moderately. It is best to wait for the sunlight to come out and then exercise. Adherence to exercise can move the muscles and bones, run blood, improve physical fitness, enhance resistance and immunity, do not get sick or less sick.
在享受美食的同时不要忘记强身健体。所谓冬至一阳生，是指此时人体生发的阳气还是微弱的小火苗，极易因感受风寒而熄灭。寒甚伤阳多导致疾病发生并迟迟难愈。因此，保暖御寒乃冬至养生第一要务。寒冬腊月，提倡冬藏。人们大多蜗居室内，外出活动减少，有的甚至停止锻炼，这是不可取的。尽管天气寒冷，还是应当保持规律的起居习惯，适度锻炼。最好等待太阳光出来后再进行锻炼。坚持锻炼可活动筋骨，运行气血，提高体质，增强抵抗力和免疫能力，可不生病或少生病。
After the Winter Solstice, after the deep winter baptism of all things, that grass grows and flies in the spring, is not far away.
冬至过后，经历了深冬洗礼的万物，那草长莺飞的春天，就在不远。
Author: Zhao Xiuran
Date: December 24, 2023
