November 8th in the solar calendar is the beginning of winter of the 24 solar terms. The reason why it is called "beginning of winter" means that from today on, it will officially enter the winter. Many plants have fallen leaves, many animals have begun to hibernate, and migratory birds will fly to the warmer south for the winter. So, how much do you know about the legend and origin of beginning of winter? Do you know the cultural connotation of beginning of winter? Let’s take a look ↓
The Legend of beginning of winter
In the past, there was a saying in old Beijing that "winter solstice wonton and summer solstice noodles". According to legend, during the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu in the north often harassed the frontier, and the people were restless. At that time, there were two leaders of Hun tribe and Tun tribe, which were very cruel. The people hated it, so they wrapped it into a corner with meat stuffing and called it "wonton" with the sound of "muddy" and "tun". Hate to eat, and seek to calm the war and live a peaceful life. Because wonton was originally made on the winter solstice, every family eats wonton on the winter solstice.
Eating "frozen ears" is a common name for Henan people to eat jiaozi during the winter solstice. Why is there such a food custom? According to legend, Zhang Zhongjing, a doctor in Nanyang, was an official in Changsha. When he retired from his old age, it was a snowy winter and the wind was biting. He was very sad when he saw the villagers on both sides of Nanyang Baihe River with their clothes uncovered, and many people’s ears were frozen rotten. He asked his disciples to set up a medical shed in Guandong, Nanyang, put mutton, peppers and some cold-dispelling medicinal materials in a pot and cook them, fished them out and chopped them up, imaged their ears with a leather bag, and then put them down and cooked them in a pot to make a kind of medicine called "soup for dispelling cold and correcting ears" for the people to eat. After eating, the villagers’ ears were cured. Later, on the winter solstice, people imitated and cooked, so the custom of "pinching ears" was formed. Later, people called it "jiaozi", and some called it "flat food" and "instant noodle dumplings". It was also said that people would not be frozen in jiaozi after eating the winter solstice.
The origin of beginning of winter
In ancient China, people used to take beginning of winter as the beginning of winter, and twenty-four solar term said, "Stand, build." He also said: "Winter is the end, and everything is collected." Beginning of winter not only represents the coming of winter, but also represents the collection of all things to avoid the cold.
The Cultural Connotation of beginning of winter
Beginning of winter is the first solar term in winter, representing the beginning of winter. Twenty-four solar terms are the product of ancient farming civilization, and farming production is closely related to the rhythm of nature. In beginning of winter, all autumn crops have been harvested, collected and put into storage, and animals have been hidden for hibernation.
Meteorological changes in beginning of winter
In the southern region, sunny, warm and comfortable "Xiaoyangchun" weather often occurs during the period from the beginning of winter to the light snow. In the folk, there is a saying that "it’s sunny in October", as the saying goes, "it’s warm in August and warm in September, and it’s sunny in October". It is generally not very cold in the early winter season in the south, but with the passage of time, cold air frequently goes south and the temperature gradually drops.
In the area near the north of Huaihe River in Qinling Mountains, cold air frequently appears, and cooling has become the normal state in this season. In the northeast and northwest regions, it is already a scene of heavy snow at this time, especially in the northeast Heilongjiang region, which has been extremely cold and entered winter long before the arrival of beginning of winter.
Beginning of winter custom
Jiaozi eats onions in the north and mutton in copper pot is good for winter. There are many customs in beginning of winter. Let’s take a look ~
Eat dumplings
Beginning of winter is at the turn of the Spring and Autumn Period, and people have the custom of eating jiaozi when they have sex, so jiaozi has become a must-have meal for beginning of winter, a northerner.
instant-boiled mutton
In the south of China, people like to eat chicken, duck and fish in beginning of winter, and weddings, a winter tonic restaurant such as "Mutton Stove" and "Ginger Duck" on the street. Many families also stew sesame oil chicken and Siwu chicken to supplement energy.
Eat raw onions
There is a proverb in Nanjing: "One and a half onions a day bring wind to your legs in winter." As soon as beginning of winter arrived, the old Nanjing people paid special attention to eating raw onions. At home, there was a small dish filled with balsamic vinegar on the dining table. Before the meal, green and white chopped green onion was added, and then attractive sesame oil was dripped, and fish or meat was eaten with chopped green onion.
Fermented yellow rice wine
It is a traditional Shaoxing wine-making custom to start brewing yellow wine on the day of beginning of winter. Winter is the most suitable season for wine fermentation, with clear water and low temperature. The period from beginning of winter to beginning of spring in the following year is most suitable for making yellow rice wine, which Shaoxing people call "winter brewing".
Eat sugar cane
In Chaoshan area of Fujian, beginning of winter wants to eat sugar cane and stir-fried fragrant rice. There is a saying among local people that "beginning of winter’s chewing cane is toothless", which means "beginning of winter’s" sugarcane will not get angry after eating it.
Go swimming in winter
"One day in beginning of winter, water cooling is three points", but the icy river water is the favorite of winter swimmers. They often welcome winter by swimming in winter on beginning of winter Day.
Lidong
Only in late autumn
It’s just winter.
Collection of all things
New winter is not cold
Editor: Pan Qiaoyu
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ShangguanNo. Author: Shanghai Baoshan