What does the arrival of the winter solstice mean? Why is the winter solstice more important than the New Year?

The Winter Solstice is a solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar. In many parts of my country, the Winter Solstice is regarded as a festival. The Winter Solstice is an important solar term among the 24 solar terms, because this day is the shortest day of the year, but after this day, the daytime will gradually increase. It is the end or beginning of a solar term cycle, corresponding to the Summer Solstice. Today is the Winter Solstice. Let's see what the arrival of the Winter Solstice means!

Contents of this article

1. What does the arrival of the winter solstice mean?

2. Why is the Winter Solstice more important than the New Year?

3. Taboos of Winter Solstice

What does the arrival of winter solstice mean?

The "dong" in "Winter Solstice" means winter, and "zhi" means arrival and coming. Therefore, the arrival of the Winter Solstice means the coming of winter. After the Winter Solstice, we enter the coldest days of the year and the New Year is approaching, which has a good meaning. In ancient my country, the Winter Solstice was called "Yasui" and "Luchangjie", which reflects the importance of the Winter Solstice.

The arrival of the winter solstice means the coming of winter, where "冬" means winter and "至" means arrival. The winter solstice is one of the 24 solar terms and is also the day with the shortest daylight in the year. After the winter solstice, the daylight will gradually get longer, and after the winter solstice, the temperature begins to drop and enters a severe cold stage.

In ancient my country, it is said that the Winter Solstice is as important as New Year's Day. Therefore, on the day of the Winter Solstice, each household would make glutinous rice balls and dumplings during the long night, and the family would gather together to strengthen their relationships. In Taiwan, people would also make nine-layer cakes using glutinous rice and other ingredients to worship their ancestors.

In ancient times, the winter solstice was also called the Yasui, which means that the New Year will come after the winter solstice, which has a beautiful meaning. The winter solstice is also called the Shoes and Longevity Festival. On this day, the younger generation will give shoes and socks to the elders, hoping that the lifespan of the elders will continue to extend like the day after the winter solstice, and that they will live a long life.

Why is the Winter Solstice bigger than the New Year?

The reason why the Winter Solstice is more important than the New Year is related to the busy farming period in ancient agricultural society. The Winter Solstice is more leisurely than the New Year and is conducive to family reunion. In many places in China, the Winter Solstice is regarded as a festival, and there are customs such as eating dumplings and glutinous rice balls. In addition, the Winter Solstice is the day with the shortest daylight in the year, and the daylight gradually increases after the Winter Solstice.

1. Busy farming season

The reason why the Winter Solstice is more important than New Year’s Day is related to the busy farming period in ancient agricultural society. Farming basically ends around the Winter Solstice. This is the most leisurely time of the year and more conducive to family reunion. By the time of New Year’s Day, spring farming has gradually begun.

2. Winter Solstice Customs

The Winter Solstice is a solar term in the Chinese lunar calendar and is considered a festival in many parts of my country. In the northern regions, there is a custom of slaughtering sheep and eating dumplings and glutinous rice balls on the day of the Winter Solstice, while in the southern regions of my country, there is a custom of eating rice balls and long noodles, as well as ancestor worship.

3. Characteristics of solar terms

The winter solstice is an important solar term among the 24 solar terms, because this day is the day with the shortest daylight in the year. However, after this day, the daylight time will gradually increase. It is the end or beginning of a solar term cycle, corresponding to the summer solstice.

Taboos of Winter Solstice

Legend has it that at midnight on this day, the yin energy is particularly heavy, and if you stay in the wilderness, you will see the spectacle of hundreds of ghosts parading at night, so everyone should go home early during the Ghost Festival. Don't work overtime today, and if you really have to work overtime, go home and catch up.

Don't stick two chopsticks in the middle of the rice. This is like sticking incense in an incense burner. It is a form of worship. The other person will think that you are inviting him to share the food.

Do not go swimming in dangerous waters. Legend has it that "water ghosts" will look for people to be scapegoats so that they can be reincarnated...

Don't pick up money on the street, because the money is used to bribe the tyrants. If you violate their things, you will be easily punished by them.

Don’t look back easily. When you are walking in the wilderness or a sparsely populated area, and you feel “as if” someone is calling you, don’t look back easily, because it might be that person.